cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing the applicability of vacuum-encapsulated 40Ar/39Ar geochronology to pedogenic palygorskite and sepiolite

Abstract The difficulty of isolating intact, mineralogically pure pedogenic crystals from cemented soil is one of the most significant obstacles to quantifying rates of soil formation, geomorphic processes, and climate change in arid regions. We evaluate the applicability of vacuum encapsulated 40 Ar/ 39 Ar geochronology to pedogenic palygorskite and sepiolite extracted from the 4 to 5 Ma, extant Mormon Mesa petrocalcic soil-geomorphic surface of southern Nevada, and from the 780 ka to 2 Ma Jornada Experimental Range La Mesa soil-geomorphic surface near Las Cruces, New Mexico. Selective dissolution of cements using NaOAc and Tiron, accompanied by particle size fractionation, was used to isolate the pedogenic Mg-phyllosilicates. Scanning electron microscopy, inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, gas chromatograph mass spectrometry, and Ar isotope analysis were used to determine whether extraction impacted palygorskite/sepiolite suitability for 40 Ar/ 39 Ar geochronology. We found no adverse morphological or mineralogical effects, but meaningful ages could not be obtained due to small amounts of old, detrital phyllosilicates in the samples. While the potential of pedogenic palygorskite and/or sepiolite for geochronology now seems limited, results from this study may prove relevant for samples from other, non-pedogenic surface environments. It is hoped that this work will encourage further research towards successful 40 Ar/ 39 Ar geochronology of pedogenic phyllosilicates, as well as inform future geochemical or isotopic studies of individual pedogenic mineral species.
Supercoherent states of OSp(8∗|2N), conformal superfields and the AdS7/CFT6 duality

Abstract We study the positive energy unitary representations of 2N extended superconformal algebras OSp(8 ∗ |2N) in six dimensions. These representations can be formulated in a particle basis or a supercoherent state basis, which are labeled by the superspace coordinates in d=6. We show that the supercoherent states that form the bases of positive energy representations of OSp(8 ∗ |2N) can be identified with conformal superfields in six dimensions. The massless conformal superfields correspond precisely to the ultra short doubleton supermultiplets of OSp(8 ∗ |2N) . The other positive energy unitary representations correspond to massive conformal superfields in six dimensions and they can be obtained by tensoring an arbitrary number of doubleton supermultiplets with each other. The supermultiplets obtained by tensoring two copies of the doubletons correspond to massless anti-de-Sitter supermultiplets in d=7.
Ontogenesis of the rabbit intestinal receptor for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3--evidence for increased receptor content during late suckling and lactating periods.

Abstract 1. 1. The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) intestinal receptor was not detected in term fetal rabbits. 2. 2. This receptor was present at 2 weeks postpartum and its concentration reached a maximum at 4 weeks of age, and declined to adult levels by 10 weeks postpartum. 3. 3. The 1,25(OH)2D3 intestinal receptor concentration was elevated at 2 weeks postpartum in lactating rabbits, but returned to normal adult concentrations by 4 weeks postpartum. 4. 4. In rabbits of various ages, only minor changes in the equilibrium dissociation constant of this receptor were observed. 5. 5. These data indicate that increasing the small intestine 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor concentration is one mechanism by which the rabbit adapts to periods of increased calcium demand.
Performance assessment and improvement.

PERIANESTHESIA NURSES routinely collect and trend data and use the results to support changes and improvement in practice. Asking the right questions and initiating change based on sound indicators promotes excellence in perianesthesia care. Pursuing quality-improvement activities that result in change to the practice environment can promote best practices for staff and patients. It may be as easy as figuring out the right questions to ask. This article discusses the value of routine perianesthesia data collection, occurrence report trending, chart audits by staff nurses, and multidisciplinary performance improvement. What data are collected on your unit on a routine basis? How can you best use that data to improve patient care? What other indicators would it be helpful to track to validate practice, or to establish best practices?
Single-component microcomputer-driven assessment of attention

The Gordon Diagnostic System (GDS) is a single-component microcomputer-based instrument that can be used to administer 11 psychological tests. The game-like tasks provide objective data for evaluating possible attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or other conditions that affect a person’s ability to sustain attention and exert self-control. The core of the instrument is an integrated circuit with a microprocessor, a random access memory, and an erasable, programmable read-only memory (EPROM). It can be programmed with an IBM PC and an EPROM programmer. The assembly language source is compiled into machine language, which is used to simulate the GDS on the IBM PC or is “burned” into the ROM. The memory is erasable with ultraviolet light, so revisions can be made easily. The GDS illustrates that “custom” programming a ROM is not limited to large industrial concerns, and that it can be done within small research groups.
Who is at risk for dropout from group cognitive-behavior therapy for insomnia?

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to identify characteristics of patients who are at risk for dropout from a seven-session group cognitive-behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in a clinical setting using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) approach. Methods Two separate ROC analyses were conducted using predictor variables taken from questionnaire packets and sleep diaries collected at baseline including age, gender, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire, Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep, use of sleep medication, sleep onset latency, wake time after sleep onset, and total sleep time (TST). Results The first ROC analysis was conducted on the entire sample of 528 patients with treatment completion vs. dropout (noncompletion) as the outcome variable. No significant predictor variables were found in this analysis. The second ROC analysis was conducted on the 211 patients who did not complete treatment with early termination (prior to fourth session) vs. late termination (at or after fourth session) as the outcome variable. The results revealed that patients who reported an average baseline TST Conclusion These findings indicate that short sleep duration and elevated symptoms of depression at baseline are associated with increased risk of early termination from CBT-I.
NEW TECHNOLOGY TO EXAMINE AND IMPROVE THE PURITY OF HYBRID RICE WITH HERBICIDE RESISTANT GENE

The herbicide resistant bar gene has been widely used as selectable marker genes in the study on plant genetic transformation. Owing to the integration of the gene into rice genome, transgenic rice was resistant to the herbicide Basta. Therefore, selection of transgenic plant and genetic analysis became easier. In the studies, bar gene was introduced as a genetic marker gene into rice restore line variety of two-line or three-line. Combined with conventional breeding method, the good herbicide resistant individual plant was derived as the new restore line for hybrid combination. After sprayed with Basta at seedling phase, the real hybrid rice that had herbicide resistance could grow normally, while the fake hybrid rice and weeds, having no bar gene, were killed by herbicide. The method described above helped rapidly to examine and improve the purity of hybrid rice.
Conserved function of mSpry-2, a murine homolog of Drosophila sprouty, which negatively modulates respiratory organogenesis.

Abstract In Drosophila embryos, the loss of sprouty gene function enhances branching of the respiratory system. Three human sprouty homologues ( h-Spry1–3 ) have been cloned recently, but their function is as yet unknown [1]. Here, we show that a murine sprouty gene ( mSpry-2 ), the product of which shares 97% homology with the respective human protein, is expressed in the embryonic murine lung. We used an antisense oligonucleotide strategy to reduce expression of mSpry-2 by 96%, as measured by competitive reverse transcriptase PCR, in E11.5 murine embryonic lungs cultured for 4 days [2]. Morphologically, the decrease in mSpry-2 expression resulted in a 72% increase in embryonic murine lung branching morphogenesis as well as a significant increase in expression of the lung epithelial marker genes SP-C, SP-B and SP-A . These results support a striking conservation of function between the Drosophila and mammalian sprouty gene families to negatively modulate respiratory organogenesis.
Inclusive Human Growth

This article is about Kazakhstan’s path toward achieving high levels of human development and an institutional environment favorable to both productivity growth and protection for the most vulnerable. The growth of human capital is closely linked with economic growth. Human capital facilitates the transmission of knowledge and will accelerate the rate at which Kazakhstan can take advantage of technology transfers through foreign direct investment. It will also facilitate research and innovation, providing Kazakhstan the flexibility to adapt as its economy grows. The article comprises four sections that in turn deal with education, labor market, health, and social protection. Each section starts by examining recent trends and the conditions that Kazakhstan faces today, the vision for 2050, and a possible program of action for the next four decades that could make Vision 2050 reality. The concluding section presents crosscutting recommendations and identifies overarching challenges.
The influence of energy storage and return foot stiffness on walking mechanics and muscle activity in below-knee amputees

article i nfo Article history: Received 15 February 2011 Accepted 15 June 2011 Background: Below-knee amputees commonly experience asymmetrical gait patterns and develop comorbidities in their intact and residual legs. Carbon fiber prosthetic feet have been developed to minimize these asymmetries by utilizing elastic energy storage and return to provide body support, forward propulsion and leg swing initiation. However, how prosthetic foot stiffness influences walking characteristics is not well- understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of foot stiffness on kinematics, kinetics, muscle activity, prosthetic energy storage and return, and mechanical efficiency during amputee walking. Methods: A comprehensive biomechanical analysis was performed on 12 unilateral below-knee amputees. Subjects walked overground at 1.2 m/s with three prosthetic feet of varying keel and heel stiffness levels, which were created using additive manufacturing. Findings: As stiffness decreased, peak residual and intact leg ankle angles and residual leg knee flexion angle increased. The residual and intact leg braking ground reaction forces and knee extensor moments, residual leg vastus and gluteus medius activity, and intact leg vastus and rectus femoris activity also increased. The second vertical ground reaction force peak and hamstring activity in the residual leg and first vertical ground reaction force peak in the intact leg decreased. In addition, prosthetic energy storage and return increased and mechanical efficiency decreased as stiffness decreased. Interpretation: Decreasing foot stiffness can increase prosthesis range of motion, mid-stance energy storage and late-stance energy return, but the net contributions to forward propulsion and swing initiation may be limited as additional muscle activity to provide body support becomes necessary.
East and west coast female brown-headed cowbirds agree: both categories of male song are sexy

Abstract Some prior studies of brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater , suggest geographical variation in female copulatory responsiveness to the two categories of male courtship songs, flight whistles (FWs) and perched songs (PSs). Females from the eastern M. ater ater subspecies and midwestern populations of the M. a. artemisiae and M. a. obscurus subspecies were reported to give copulation solicitation responses only to playback of PSs. But females from far western populations of M. a. artemisiae and M. a. obscurus responded to both PSs and FWs. An east–west difference in the social salience of FWs could have an ecological basis. FWs are used mostly for long-distance signalling and because western birds have larger home ranges they may use FWs more often. However, the disparate FW findings may result from different procedures used to assess female responsiveness to playbacks. Determining whether the disparate findings are due to geographical variation or to methodological differences is important because many potentially significant insights into song development and female preferences in oscines are based on cowbirds. Furthermore, either explanation would elucidate important links between female choice and male sexual displays. To resolve this issue, we tested M. a. ater females from New York using identical procedures to those we used in the far west and found that they were highly responsive to both FWs and PSs. This does not support the hypothesis that there is pronounced geographical variation in the courtship salience of FWs. Rather, it suggests that different procedures used by researchers in different areas of the cowbird’s range are responsible for the disparate findings. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .
Pharmacological characterization of serotonin receptors in the facial motor nucleus: a microiontophoretic study.

Abstract The effects of ‘peripheral’ serotonin (5-HT) antagonists on the facilitation of facial motoneuron excitation by 5-HT were investigated in the present study. Microiontophoretic application (5–10 nA) or intravenous administration of methysergide (0.5–1.0 mg/kg), cyproheptadine (0.5–1.0 mg/kg), cinanserin (0.5–1.0 mg/kg), or metergoline (50–100 μg/kg) antagonized the facilitating effect of 5-HT but not that of norepinephrine (NE) on facial motoneurons. Blockade developed within 1–2 min of the intravenous administration of methysergide, cyproheptadine and cinanserin and continued up to 30 min. The antagonism produced by intravenous metergoline took 8–15 min to develop and lasted for at least 6 h. Chronic administration of metergoline resulted in supersensitivity to 5-TH and NE in the facial nucleus. The putative 5-HT antagonists chlorpromazine, propranolol, and methiothepin failed to block the facilitating effect of 5-HT; however, methiothepin did block NE. The results are discussed in relation to a two-component model of the 5-HT mediated motor syndrome consisting of: (1) patterned excitatory inputs to motor nuclei; (2) 5-HT facilitation of these excitatory inputs. The ‘peripheral’ 5-HT antagonists appear to directly block the latter component.
Production of Cephalosporin C by Single and Double Sulfur Auxotrophic Mutants of Cephalosporium acremonium

An early blocked sulfur amino acid auxotroph, Cephalosporium acremonium mutant 274-1 (which could be satisfied by methionine or cysteine), utilized organic sulfur compounds for cephalosporin C production in the following order of decreasing effectiveness; methionine > cystathionine > cysteine, despite the fact that cysteine is considered to be the immediate precursor of the antibiotic. When a genetic block was added to mutant 274-1 in the transsulfuration pathway from cysteine to methionine, the double mutant 11-8 (which grows on methonine but not cysteine) failed to produce cephalosporin C from cysteine even though enough methionine was added to support normal growth. Addition of the non-sulfur analogue, norleucine, resulted in antibiotic production from cysteine in the double mutant. These facts support the hypothesis that methionine stimulation of cephalosporin C production is due to a role of methionine other than that of sulfur donation.
Spatial and temporal variability of monthly precipitation in Texas

Abstract Monthly precipitation at 46 stations located throughout the state of Texas was examined over a continuous 62-year period from 1923 to 1984. Precipitation data were subjected to spectral, empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and correlation analyses. Focus was on the dominant EOF (E1), which explains 30% to 45% of all precipitation variance. The time-dependent coefficient associated with E1 closely resembles a statewide average precipitation index. This time-dependent coefficient undergoes large month-to-month fluctuations; however, these fluctuations are, for the most part, aperiodic. Other than slight month-to-month persistence during winter and spring, monthly precipitation anomalies cannot be predicted or anticipated based on time-series or spectral analysis. A long-term monthly mean sea level pressure dataset is composited over anomalously wet and anomalously dry months covering the 62 years. A signal is found in the sea level pressure composites, which is best defined during winter months. An...
Perianal rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood

The case of a child with a stage I perianal embryonal botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma is presented, with description of coordinated management utilizing local excision, irradiation, and cyclic chemotherapy resulting in a 3-year tumor-free survival. Previously reported pediatric cases are summarized.
Graph Comparison Using Fine Structure Analysis

We introduce a novel technique for comparing graphs using the structure of their subgraphs, which we call a graph’s fine structure. Our technique compares graphs using the earth mover’s distance between the distributions of summarizing features of their constituent subgraphs. We demonstrate the use of this technique as an abstraction of graph edit-distance and show its use in hierarchical clustering on several graphs derived from a variety of sources including social interaction data.
Polyunsaturated fatty acyl-coenzyme As are inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis in zebrafish and mice

Lipid disorders pose therapeutic challenges. Previously we discovered that mutation of the hepatocyte β-hydroxybutyrate transporter Slc16a6a in zebrafish causes hepatic steatosis during fasting, marked by increased hepatic triacylglycerol, but not cholesterol. This selective diversion of trapped ketogenic carbon atoms is surprising because acetate and acetoacetate can exit mitochondria and can be incorporated into both fatty acids and cholesterol in normal hepatocytes. To elucidate the mechanism of this selective diversion of carbon atoms to fatty acids, we fed wild-type and slc16a6a mutant animals high-protein ketogenic diets. We find that slc16a6a mutants have decreased activity of the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr), despite increased Hmgcr protein abundance and relative incorporation of mevalonate into cholesterol. These observations suggest the presence of an endogenous Hmgcr inhibitor. We took a candidate approach to identify such inhibitors. First, we found that mutant livers accumulate multiple polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and PUFA-CoAs, and we showed that human HMGCR is inhibited by PUFA-CoAs in vitro. Second, we injected mice with an ethyl ester of the PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid and observed an acute decrease in hepatic Hmgcr activity, without alteration in Hmgcr protein abundance. These results elucidate a mechanism for PUFA-mediated cholesterol lowering through direct inhibition of Hmgcr.
Metamorphic P?T Paths from pelitic schists and greenstones from the south-west Tauern Window, Eastern Alps

Petrological data from intercalated pelitic schists and greenstones are used to construct a pressure–temperature path followed by the Upper Schieferhulle (USH) series during progressive metamorphism and uplift in the south-west Tauern Window, Italy. Pseudomorphs of Al–epidote + Fe-epidote + albite + oligoclase + chlorite after lawsonite and data on amphibole crystal chemistry indicate early metamorphism in the lawsonite-albite-chlorite subfacies of the blueschist facies at P± 7–8 kbar. Geothermometry and geobarometry yield conditions of final equilibration of the matrix assemblage of 475±25°C, 5–6 kbar; calculations with plagioclase and phengite inclusions in garnet indicate early garnet growth at pressures of ∼ 7.5 kbar. Garnet zoning patterns are complex and reversals in zoning can be correlated between samples. Thermodynamic modelling of these zoning profiles implies garnet growth in response to four distinct phases of tectonic activity. Fluid inclusion data from coexisting immiscible H2O–CO2–NaCl fluids constrain the uplift path to have passed through temperatures of 380 + 30°C at 1.3 + 0.2 kbar. There is no evidence for metamorphism of USH at pressures greater than ∼ 7.5 kbar in this area of the Tauern Window. This is in contrast to pressures of ± 10 kbar recorded in the Lower Schieferhulle only 2–3 km across strike. A history of differential uplift and thinning of the intervening section during metamorphism is necessary to reconcile the P–T data obtained from these adjacent tectonic units.
Opportunistic Planning: Being Reminded of Pending Goals

Pending goals are intentions that are postponed by a planner because they do not fit into the current, ongoing activity. Recognizing later opportunities to achieve pending goals is an important cognitive ability because it allows one to defer work on a goal until one is in a better position to achieve it. This research focuses on when and how pending goals are recognized in everyday planning situations and offers a predictive encoding model of goal representation. Experiment 1 provides evidence that pending goals are stored as long-term memory elements that become associated, at the time of encoding, with features of the environment representing opportunities to achieve the goals, consistent with the predictive encoding model. Experiment 2 shows that these predictive inferences tend to be concrete (e.g., "use Vaseline to remove a stuck ring"), rather than more abstract (e.g., "use any lubricant"), which is nonoptimal for recognizing novel opportunities. However, as shown in Experiment 3, instructions to encode a potential plan with only abstract constraints can lead to recognition of a wider range of opportunities. These findings provide evidence for the predictive encoding model and suggest ways to facilitate the later recognition of opportunities for satisfying pending goals. Copyright 1997Academic Press
Role of the small GTPase Rho in modulation of the inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir2.1.

The inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir2.1 is inhibited by a variety of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the mechanisms underlying the inhibition have not been fully elucidated. In this study the role of the small GTPase, Rho, in mediating this inhibition was determined. Stimulation of the m1 muscarinic receptor inhibited Kir2.1, when both receptor and channel were coexpressed in tsA201 cells. The inhibition of Kir2.1 by carbachol was reversible and atropine-sensitive. Cotransfection with a dominant-negative mutant of the small GTPase Rho abolished the inhibition of Kir2.1 with current amplitudes remaining at control levels in the presence of carbachol. Conversely, cotransfection with the constitutively activated mutant of Rho resulted in a reduction in basal Kir2.1 current amplitudes, suggesting that Rho inhibits Kir2.1. To further confirm the involvement of Rho in the signal transduction pathway, cotransfection with C3 transferase (EFC3), a selective inhibitor of Rho, abolished the reduction in Kir2.1 currents noted upon application of carbachol under control conditions. Preincubation with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin or the Rho kinase inhibitor (R)-(+)-trans-N-(4-pyridyl)-4-(1-aminoethyl)-cyclohexanecarboxamide, 2 HCl (Y-27632) had no effect on agonist-induced inhibition of Kir2.1, precluding these kinases as downstream effectors of Rho in mediation of the signal. In addition, 2′-amino-3′-methoxyflavone (PD98059), an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase (MEK), had no effect on the m1 receptor-induced inhibition of Kir2.1, suggesting that MAP kinases are not involved in the signaling pathway. In conclusion, these data indicate that the small GTPase, Rho, transduces the m1 muscarinic receptor-induced inhibition of Kir2.1 via an unidentified mechanism.
Immunological evidence that a 305‐kilodalton vitelline envelope polypeptide isolated from sea urchin eggs is a sperm receptor

Direct isolation of the sea urchin egg vitelline envelope with intact sperm receptors is difficult because the envelope is firmly attached to the egg plasma membrane. We now report a method for producing an inseminated egg preparation in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (using soybean trypsin inhibitor [STI] and Ca2+, Mg2+-free seawater) that contains an elevated vitelline envelope (VE*-STI). The VE*-STI is devoid of cortical granule material, and supernumerary sperm do not detach postinsemination, suggesting that the VE*-STI contains active sperm receptors. VE*-STIs contain a 305-kD polypeptide and additional components that range from 225 to 31 kD, whereas the 305-kD polypeptide was considerably reduced in VE*s. Electrophoresis of sperm receptor hydrolase digests of VE*-STIs showed that the 305-kD polypeptide and several other envelope polypeptides are protease substrates. Univalent Fab fragments against VE*s, VE*-STIs, and 305 and 225-kD polypeptides blocked sperm binding and fertilization in an Fab concentration-dependent manner. The 305 and 225-kD polypeptides were localized in the VE*-STI using indirect immunofluorescence. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays showed that the 305 and 225-kD polypeptides share determinants, suggesting that the 225-kD polypeptide may be derived from the 305-kD polypeptide by the proteolysis that occurs at the cell surface during fertilization. Fab fragments against S purpuratus VE*-STI antigens neither bound to nor blocked homologous sperm binding and fertilization of Lytechinus variegatus eggs. Cross fertilizability occurred to the extent of 5% or less between L variegatus and S purpuratus, therefore, we conclude that the 305 kD-polypeptide isolated from S purpuratus is a species-specific vitelline envelope sperm receptor.
Treatment of hyperglycemia in ischemic stroke (THIS): a randomized pilot trial.

Background and Purpose— Hyperglycemia may worsen brain injury during acute cerebral infarction. We tested the feasibility and tolerability of aggressive hyperglycemia correction with intravenous insulin compared with usual care during acute cerebral infarction. Methods— We conducted a randomized, multicenter, blinded pilot trial for patients with cerebral infarction within 12 hours after onset, a baseline glucose value ≥8.3 mmol/L (≥150 mg/dL), and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 3 to 22. Patients were randomized 2:1 to aggressive treatment with continuous intravenous insulin or subcutaneous insulin QID as needed (usual care). Target glucose levels were <7.2 mmol/L (<130 mg/dL) in the aggressive-treatment group and <11.1 mmol/L (<200 mg/dL) in the usual-care group. Glucose was monitored every 1 to 2 hours, and the protocol treatments continued for up to 72 hours. Final clinical outcomes were assessed at 3 months. Results— We randomized 46 patients (31 to aggressive treatment and 15 t...
Automated casing event detection in persistent video surveillance

An increase volume of surveillance video is being collected, by various organizations, which has led to a need for automated video systems in order to reduce reviewing time. Using persistent video gathered from an aircraft overhead, as is done with unmanned aerial systems in Iraq and Afghanistan, we get a birds-eye view of vehicular activity. From these activities we can use a model to detect suspicious surveillance activity (casing). This paper builds a model to detect casing events and tests it using Global Positioning System (GPS) tracks generated from vehicles driving in an urban area to show the effectiveness of the model. The results show that several vehicles can be monitored at once in real-time. Additionally, the model detects when vehicles are casing buildings and which buildings they are targeting.
Effect of modulated glucose uptake on high-level recombinant protein production in a dense Escherichia coli culture

Methyl alpha-glucoside (alpha-MG) is a metabolically inert glucose analog sharing the same phosphotransferase system with glucose. The potential of using this compound, which acts as a nontoxic competitive inhibitor, to modulate glucose uptake and subsequently reduce the acetate accumulation rate was investigated. In a complex medium, no significant effect on the growth rate was observed when the alpha-MG to glucose ratio was low. The effect of alpha-MG supplementation on the production of a model recombinant protein, CadA-beta-galactosidase, under the regulation of a pH-inducible promoter in a batch culture was also examined. It was observed that the amount of acetate accumulation was drastically reduced in the presence of alpha-MG. More importantly, recombinant protein productivity was significantly improved. A very high volumetric productivity of approximately 1.6 g/L recombinant protein in a dense culture with an OD600 of 35 was obtained in a simple batch fermentation. Even at this high cell density, the specific protein productivity was maintained at a high level and was estimated to account for about 40% of the total cellular protein.
Test Challenges for 3D Integrated Circuits

One of the challenges for 3D technology adoption is the insufficient understanding of 3D testing issues and the lack of DFT solutions. This article describes testing challenges for 3D ICs, including problems that are unique to 3D integration, and summarizes early research results in this area. Researchers are investigating various 3D IC manufacturing processes that are particularly relevant to testing and DFT. In terms of the process and the level of assembly that 3D ICs require, we can broadly classify the techniques as monolithic or as die stacking.
Cleavage of ultra‐large von Willebrand factor by ADAMTS‐13 under flow conditions

Summary. von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a critical ligand for platelet adhesion and aggregation. It is synthesized and released as multimers composed of various numbers of monomers. When first released from the storage granules of endothelial cells, VWF multimers are rich in the ultra-large (UL) forms that spontaneously bind the GP Ib-IX complex and aggregate platelets. These prothrombotic ULVWF multimers are rapidly cleaved by the metalloprotease ADAMTS-13 (A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin motif) to smaller and much less active forms. Recently, several methods have been developed to measure ADAMTS-13 activity in vitro and to link its deficiency to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Correlations between the structure and functions of the metalloprotease have also been extensively studied using recombinant technologies. However, questions remain regarding the proper substrate for the metalloprotease, the time and location of ULVWF proteolysis, and the role of fluid shear stress. In this brief review, we have discussed a potential model for ULVWF proteolysis by ADAMTS-13 in vivo. In this model, ULVWF is anchored to the surface of endothelial cells to form string-like structures under fluid shear stress. Such an elongated conformation facilitates ULVWF cleavage by exposing either the cleavage or binding sites for the metalloprotease. When ADAMTS-13 is deficient, the uncleaved ULVWF accumulates in plasma and on endothelial cells to capture platelets. This leads to platelet aggregation and thromboembolism. Dissecting the process of ULVWF proteolysis is important for not only understanding the pathophysiology of thrombotic microangiopathies, but also developing more effective means to treat these deadly diseases.
Sequential effects reflect parallel learning of multiple environmental regularities

Across a wide range of cognitive tasks, recent experience influences behavior. For example, when individuals repeatedly perform a simple two-alternative forced-choice task (2AFC), response latencies vary dramatically based on the immediately preceding trial sequence. These sequential effects have been interpreted as adaptation to the statistical structure of an uncertain, changing environment (e.g., Jones and Sieck, 2003; Mozer, Kinoshita, and Shettel, 2007; Yu and Cohen, 2008). The Dynamic Belief Model (DBM) (Yu and Cohen, 2008) explains sequential effects in 2AFC tasks as a rational consequence of a dynamic internal representation that tracks second-order statistics of the trial sequence (repetition rates) and predicts whether the upcoming trial will be a repetition or an alternation of the previous trial. Experimental results suggest that first-order statistics (base rates) also influence sequential effects. We propose a model that learns both first- and second-order sequence properties, each according to the basic principles of the DBM but under a unified inferential framework. This model, the Dynamic Belief Mixture Model (DBM2), obtains precise, parsimonious fits to data. Furthermore, the model predicts dissociations in behavioral (Maloney, Martello, Sahm, and Spillmann, 2005) and electrophysiological studies (Jentzsch and Sommer, 2002), supporting the psychological and neurobiological reality of its two components.
Nanometre fcc clusters versus bulk bcc alloy: The structure of Cu-Pd catalysts

Abstract We present a simple method to improve the accuracy of the calculated heat of mixing for the Cu-Pd alloy within the formalism of the molecular dynamics/ Monte Carlo-corrected effective medium (MD/MC-CEM) theory by adding a fitted Morse potential to the pair interaction between Cu and Pd atoms. This leads to a much better agreement between the theoretical and experimental values of heats of mixing for five different compositions of the Cu-Pd alloy in the bulk phases. Using this newly fitted model, we have performed simulations on CuPd clusters consisting of 50–10000 atoms with fee and bcc structures. Our calculations show that in the range of cluster sizes of several thousand atoms, the fee structure is energetically favoured over the bcc structure. We estimate an approximate size for the fee to bcc (CsCl, known bulk structure for CuPd) transition in these clusters to be around 10000 atoms. Additionally, we have also performed calculations of the X-ray diffraction patterns of a variety of cluster g...
Parallel heuristics for the Steiner tree problem in images without sorting or routing

The problem of determining a minimum-cost rectilinear Steiner tree when the input is an n*n binary array, I which is stored in an n*n mesh of processors is discussed. Several heuristic mesh algorithms are presented for this NP-hard problem. A major design criterion of the algorithms is to avoid sorting and routing, which are expensive operations in practice. All of the algorithms have an O(n log k) worst-case running time, where k is the number of connected components formed by the entries of value 1. Two conceptually different methods for connecting components in an image and a method for improving subsolutions by making horizontal and vertical shortcuts are presented. >
ACRYLAMIDINE, AN ANTI-FUNGAL SUBSTANCE PRODUCED BY A STREPTOMYCES

An antibiotic weakly active against Candida was isolated as a colorless crystalline hydrochloride from a culture of a streptomyces which showed some resemblances with Streptomyces eurythermits. This antibiotic was unstable to acid and alkali, but was recovered in good yield by elution with 0.5M ammoniumchloride solution from the ion-exchange resin, Amberlite IRC-50 (Na+ type). It was determined to be acrylamidine by spectroscopic data, degradation and direct comparison with a synthetic sample. The LD50 (mice) of acrylamidine was 44 mg/kg intravenously.
Signal transduction in Mimosa pudica: biologically closed electrical circuits

Biologically closed electrical circuits operate over large distances in biological tissues. The activation of such circuits can lead to various physiological and biophysical responses. Here, we analyse the biologically closed electrical circuits of the sensitive plant Mimosa pudica Linn. using electrostimulation of a petiole or pulvinus by the charged capacitor method, and evaluate the equivalent electrical scheme of electrical signal transduction inside the plant. The discharge of a 100 microF capacitor in the pulvinus resulted in the downward fall of the petiole in a few seconds, if the capacitor was charged beforehand by a 1.5 V power supply. Upon disconnection of the capacitor from Ag/AgCl electrodes, the petiole slowly relaxed to the initial position. The electrical properties of the M. pudica were investigated, and an equivalent electrical circuit was proposed that explains the experimental data.
Pluralism in evolutionary controversies: styles and averaging strategies in hierarchical selection theories

Two controversies exist regarding the appropriate characterization of hierarchical and adaptive evolution in natural populations. In biology, there is the Wright–Fisher controversy over the relative roles of random genetic drift, natural selection, population structure, and interdemic selection in adaptive evolution begun by Sewall Wright and Ronald Aylmer Fisher. There is also the Units of Selection debate, spanning both the biological and the philosophical literature and including the impassioned group-selection debate. Why do these two discourses exist separately, and interact relatively little? We postulate that the reason for this schism can be found in the differing focus of each controversy, a deep difference itself determined by distinct general styles of scientific research guiding each discourse. That is, the Wright–Fisher debate focuses on adaptive process, and tends to be instructed by the mathematical modeling style, while the focus of the Units of Selection controversy is adaptive product, and is typically guided by the function style. The differences between the two discourses can be usefully tracked by examining their interpretations of two contested strategies for theorizing hierarchical selection: horizontal and vertical averaging.
A 65+ Gflop/s unstructured finite element simulation of chemically reacting flows on the Intel Paragon

Many scientific and engineering applications require a detailed analysis of complex systems with strongly coupled fluid flow, thermal energy transfer mass transfer and nonequilibrium chemical reactions. Here we describe the performance of a newly developed application code, SALSA, designed to simulate these complex flows on large-scale parallel machines such as the Intel Paragon. SALSA uses 3D unstructured finite element methods to model geometrically complex flow systems. Fully implicit time integration, multicomponent mass transport and general gas phase and surface species non-equilibrium chemical kinetics are employed. Using these techniques we have obtained over 65 Gflop/s on a 3D chemically reacting flow CVD problem for Silicon Carbide (SiC) deposition. This represents 46% of the peak performance of our 1904 node Intel Paragon, an outstanding computational rate in view of the required unstructured data communication. >
Experimental studies of single droplet liquid extraction with chemical reaction

Experimental data were obtained for the diffusion of a solute from the continuous phase into droplets falling in a single streani though a simple spray extractor. The solute reacted inside the dispersed phase by means of a second-order reaction. The high droplet Reynolds numbers encountered necessitated the use of modifications of film and penetration approaches to arrive at methods for predicting single droplet extraction with reaction. The evaluation of the interfacial concentration was a special problem in this study.
Performance of the distributed antenna systems in a multi-cell environment

Performance of the proposed generalized distributed antenna system (GDAS) [W. Roh et.al. (2002)] in a multi-cell network is presented. A multi-cell signal model for GDAS is introduced and a framework for obtaining the output SINR of optimum and sub-optimum combiners for GDAS is discussed. The actual Monte Carlo simulation is performed first with the simplified signal model to investigate the interaction among parameters on performance without dealing with path loss variation, and later with the original model in cellular geometry to draw a conclusion in realistic conditions. The outage and BER performance of various combining techniques are obtained from the observed SINR statistics, and the decision for best scheme is made based on the network condition such as the number of interferers (J), GDAS parameters N and L, SIR and SNR.
The coupling and mutual impedance between conical log-spiral antennas in simple arrays

The radiation characteristics of the conical logarithmic spiral antenna make it attractive as an element for circularly polarized arrays. The design of such arrays requires a knowledge of the radiation coupling and mutual impedance between these log-spiral elements as a function of rotation as well as element spacing, and for some array configurations a knowledge of the location of the phase center of the elements. A general consideration of the conical log-spiral antenna as a locally periodic, slow wave structure is outlined, and in so-doing a quasi-empirical formula for the location of the antenna phase center is developed. An investigation of the mutual impedance between the log-spiral antennas has shown it to be very low. Information on this impedance and on the coefficient of coupling between antennas is supplied for two different geometrical array configurations and for various antenna parameters. Pattern modification due to the presence of parasitic elements has been investigated. For element to element spacing of at least one half wavelength, this consists primarily of an increase in beamwidth. Radiation patterns for several arrays, including one 4 element conical array are shown. This latter array should be of interest as a primary antenna or as a feed for a large parabolic reflector in telemetry applications.
History of Cerebral Blood Flow Assessment

Over 100 years have passed since Adolf Pick [1] introduced in 1870 the now wellestablished principle that bears his name. Based on the conservation of mass, this principle simply states that the quantity of a substance taken up by an organ per unit of time is equal to the blood flow through that organ multiplied by the difference between its arterial and venous concentrations.
Effects of peanut plant fractions on lesser cornstalk borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larval feeding

Larval feeding bioassays were done with the lesser cornstalk borer ( Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller)) using agar plugs containing samples from eight peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Florunner) plant parts to determine their phagostimulative effects. Agar plugs containing residues from roots, pegs, lower stems, lower leaves, higher stems, higher leaves, young pods, or old pods were fed upon the most by larvae. Chemically pure cellulose was not an adequate substitute for these residues. The methanol and water extracts had some phagostimulative properties. When samples of different peanut plant parts were tested together, significantly more lesser cornstalk borer larvae fed on those obtained from pods and leaves.
Industry Growth Patterns: Theory and Empirical Results

Efforts to develop an effective theory of economic growth seem to be yielding progressively more meagre results in recent years. That this may reflect the limitations of continued concentration at the level of entire economies is suggested by mounting evidence that input—output and other economic relationships may differ significantly among major sectors of production and distribution. Resulting national statistical aggregates would then represent only the passive resultant of disparate changes among such components. Growth studies may accordingly be enriched by seeking to develop models which encompass the adjustment patterns of products, firms, industries and regions as well as their interactions in shaping changes at higher levels of aggregation. By way of supporting such efforts, this chapter will concentrate primarily on the growth patterns exhibited by industries, with only peripheral attention to exploring the growth patterns of firms and products.
Personalized mathematical word problem generation

Word problems are an established technique for teaching mathematical modeling skills in K-12 education. However, many students find word problems unconnected to their lives, artificial, and uninteresting. Most students find them much more difficult than the corresponding symbolic representations. To account for this phenomenon, an ideal pedagogy might involve an individually crafted progression of unique word problems that form a personalized plot. We propose a novel technique for automatic generation of personalized word problems. In our system, word problems are generated from general specifications using answer-set programming (ASP). The specifications include tutor requirements (properties of a mathematical model), and student requirements (personalization, characters, setting). Our system takes a logical encoding of the specification, synthesizes a word problem narrative and its mathematical model as a labeled logical plot graph, and realizes the problem in natural language. Human judges found our problems as solvable as the textbook problems, with a slightly more artificial language.
National Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Non-advanced Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC): An Evaluation of Adherence with the 2009 American Thyroid Association Guidelines

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) represents the third most common type of thyroid cancer, and the prognosis depends on the stage of the disease at diagnosis and completeness of tumor resection. In 2009, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) published guidelines with evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of MTC. This study aimed to determine national adherence rates of the treatment according to the ATA guidelines specific for MTC. Patients diagnosed with MTC from 2004 to 2013 were identified from the National Cancer Database. Guideline adherence rates for the treatment of MTC before and after the publication of ATA guidelines were analyzed and compared to determine patient and clinical variables that affected treatment. A total of 3693 patients diagnosed with MTC were identified. We found 60.3 % of the patients had localized MTC and 39.7 % had regional metastases. Older age, female sex and having Medicaid or being uninsured were directly correlated with more advanced disease upon diagnosis (p < 0.001). Overall, a greater proportion of patients received care in accordance with the recommendations following the ATA guidelines’ publication in 2009: 61.4 % of patients treated between 2004 and 2008 versus 66.8 % of patients treated between 2009 and 2013 received care in accordance with the recommendations (p < 0.01). Factors such as older age, African American race, localized disease at diagnosis, lower estimated median zip code household income and being treated in a community versus an academic hospital were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving care in accordance with the guidelines. Adherence rates to the ATA recommendations for the treatment of MTC increased modestly following the publication of guidelines in 2009 with the largest increase seen in community hospitals. Being older, African American, diagnosed with localized disease and treated in a community hospital rather than in an academic institution was correlated with a lower likelihood of receiving treatment in accordance with the guidelines. Efforts should be made to continuously increase the adherence rates to the MTC ATA guidelines and to decrease socioeconomic disparities that continue to exist in the treatment of MTC.