cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two Residues of Rubisco Activase Involved in Recognition of the Rubisco Substrate

Abstract Rubisco activase is an AAA+ protein, a superfamily with members that use a “Sensor 2” domain for substrate recognition. To determine whether the analogous domain of activase is involved in recognition of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.1.39), two chimeric activases were constructed, interchanging a Sensor 2-containing region between activases from spinach and tobacco. Spinach chimeric activase was a poor activator of both spinach and tobacco Rubisco. In contrast, tobacco chimeric activase activated spinach Rubisco far better than tobacco Rubisco, similar to spinach activase. A point mutation, K311D, in the Sensor 2 domain of the tobacco chimeric activase abolished its ability to better activate spinach Rubisco. The opposite mutation, D311K, in wild type tobacco activase produced an enzyme that activated both spinach and tobacco Rubisco, whereas a second mutation, D311K/L314V, shifted the activation preference toward spinach Rubisco. The involvement of these two residues in substrate selectivity was confirmed by introducing the analogous single and double mutations in cotton activase. The ability of the two tobacco activase mutants to activate wild type and mutant Chlamydomonas Rubiscos was also examined. Tobacco D311K activase readily activated wild type and P89R but not D94K Rubisco, whereas the tobacco L314V activase only activated D94K Rubisco. The tobacco activase double mutant D311K/L314V activated wild type Chlamydomonas Rubisco better than either the P89R or D94K Rubisco mutants, mimicking activation by spinach activase. The results identified a substrate recognition region in activase in which two residues may directly interact with two residues in Rubisco.
Microfluidic Approach for the Synthesis of Micro- or Nanosized Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Particles

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have specific molecular recognition sites for chemical detection.High affinity receptors can increase the sensitivity of sensors/devices. The synthesis of micro- or nanosized MIP's particles is desirable to improve the sensitivity since MIP's particle sizes are inversely proportional to the affinity between receptors and template molecules. To synthesize nano- or microsized MIPs particles, we demonstrate here a novel microfluidic approach, which presents continuous and uniform MIP's particle generation.
Identification of time varying systems

An algorithm that uses an optimal control theoretic approach to identifying time varying systems is presented. The hybrid cost function used by this algorithm removes many of the limitation associated with identification methods based on the familiar error based cost function. This results in improved parameter tracking of a wide variety of systems. Of particular interest is identification of systems and their adaptation mechanisms observed in man-machine applications.
The rate of removal of pyrimidine dimers in quiescent cultures of normal human and xeroderma pigmentosum cells

Abstract The rate of removal of pyrimidine dimers from DNA of UV (254 nm)-irradiated (1 J/m2) normal and xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells maintained in culture as nondividing populations was determined. Several normal and XP strains from complementation groups A, C and D were studied. The excision rates and survival ability of nondividing cells were examined to determine if an abnormal sensitivity was associated with a decreased rate of dimer excision. The results show that all normal strains studied excise pyrimidine dimers at the same rate, with the rate curve characterized by two components. All ‘excision-deficient’ XP strains excise dimers at a slower-than-normal rate, with the rate curves also characterized by two components. The rate constants for the first components of all of the XP strains (group A, C and D) are the same, one tenth of the normal rate constant, except for XP8LO (group A). XP8LO has a first-component rate constant similar to that of normal strains and a second component rate constant similar to that of other group A strains (XP12BE, XP25RO). Thus, the slower rate of dimer excision in XP8LO is due to a defect in the mechanism responsible for the second component of the excision-rate curve. In general, an abnormal sensitivity of nondividing cells to UV is associated with a reduced dimer-excision rate. A notable exception to this is the group C strain XP1BE which has an initial repair rate similar to that of group A XP12BE but is considerably more resistant when survival is measured.
Rapid Burkholderia pseudomallei identification and antibiotic resistance determination by bacteriophage amplification and MALDI-TOF MS

Phage amplification detected by MALDI-TOF MS was investigated for rapid and simultaneous Burkholderia pseudomallei identification and ceftazidime resistance determination. B. pseudomallei ceftazidime susceptible and resistant ΔpurM mutant strains Bp82 and Bp82.3 were infected with broadly targeting B. pseudomallei phage ϕX216 and production of the m/z 37.6 kDa phage capsid protein observed by MALDI-TOF MS over the course of 3 h infections. This allowed for repoducible phage-based bacterial ID within 2 h of the onset of infection. MALDI-TOF MS-measured time to detection correlated with in silico modeling, which predicted an approximate 2 h detection time. Ceftazidime susceptible strain Bp82, while detectable in the absence of the drug, owing to the reliance of phage amplification on a viable host, was not detectable when 10 μg/mL ceftazidime was added at the onset of infection. In contrast, resistant strain Bp82.3 was detected in the same 2 h timeframe both with and without the addition of ceftazidime.
Avenues of extrapulmonary oxygen uptake in western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta belli) at 10 °C

The major avenues of extrapulmonary oxygen uptake were determined on submerged western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) at 10 degrees C by selectively blocking one or more potential pathways for exchange. Previous work indicated that the skin, the cloaca, and the buccopharyngeal cavity can all contribute significantly in various species of turtles. O(2) uptake was calculated from the rate of fall in water P(O(2)) in a closed chamber. Two series of experiments were conducted: in Series 1, each of the potential avenues was mechanically blocked either singly or in combination; in Series 2, active cloacal and buccal pumping were prevented pharmacologically using the paralytic agent rocuronium. In addition in Series 2, N(2)-breathing preceded submergence in some animals and in one set of Series 2 experiments arterial blood was sampled and analyzed for pH, lactate, P(O(2)), and P(CO(2)). Results in both Series 1 and Series 2 revealed that prevention of cloacal and/or buccopharyngeal exchange did not significantly affect total O(2) uptake. Interfering with skin diffusion in Series 1, however, significantly reduced O(2) uptake by 50%. N(2)-breathing prior to submergence in Series 2 did not affect O(2) uptake in paralyzed turtles but significantly increased uptake in unparalyzed turtles without catheters. Blood analysis revealed that all submerged turtles developed lactic acidosis, but the rate of rise in lactate was significantly lower in paralyzed animals. We conclude that passive diffusion through the integument is the principal avenue of aquatic O(2) uptake in this species.
Converting souls across cultural borders: Dutch Calvinism and early modern missionary enterprises*

This study focuses on disputes among Dutch Calvinists (Reformed Protestants) in Asia and in Europe over how to administer the sacraments of baptism and communion to people with little or no exposure to Protestant Christianity. Historians have tended to view these conflicts as evidence of Calvinist rigidity and the incompatibility between Protestantism and non-European societies. When examined within global patterns of Christianization, however, it becomes clear that Calvinists had much in common with Roman Catholic missionaries in trying to convert people across cultural borders. All missionaries had to negotiate the inherent tensions between accommodation and orthodoxy in early modern missionary programmes. Many Calvinists on the missionary frontier, like their Catholic counterparts, opted for syncretistic strategies over objections from authorities in their religious heartland.
Vasodilator Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure: Lessons From Mortality Trials

Congestive heart failure is a major clinical and public health problem affecting between 2 and 3 million people in the United States. Whereas myocardial dysfunction assumes a central pathophysiologic role in the development of chronic heart failure, alterations in the peripheral vasculature and neurohormonal systems serve to modulate the heart failure state. Short-term studies of nonspecific vasodilators and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors demonstrate a beneficial effect of these agents on left ventricular function, hemodynamics, exercise tolerance, and quality of life in patients with congestive heart failure and depressed left ventricular systolic function. More recently, several large-scale multicenter trials have documented improved survival in patients with heart failure who received vasodilating agents. These studies, in conjunction with hemodynamic and functional studies, argue strongly for the widespread use of vasodilator therapy, notably the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, for congestive heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:445-454)
PROGRAMS FOR PROMOTING PARENTING OF RESIDENTIAL PARENTS: Moving From Efficacy to Effectiveness

This article reviews prevention programs that target primary residential parents as change agents for improving children's postdivorce adjustment. First, we review parental risk and protective factors for children from divorced families, including parenting quality, parental mental health problems, interparental conflict, and contact with the nonresidential parent. Following a discussion of brief informational interventions, we describe the findings of evaluations of three multisession, skill-building interventions for divorced parents. Impressive evidence is presented that parenting is a modifiable protective factor and that improving parenting leads to improvements in children's postdivorce adjustment. We then discuss, in greater detail, the New Beginnings Program, which we highlight because it has shown repeated, immediate effects on children's mental health outcomes as well as long-term effects on a wide array of other meaningful outcomes, such as diagnosis of mental disorder in the past year, externalizing problems, alcohol and drug use, and academic performance. Also, mediational analyses have shown that program-induced changes in parenting accounted for changes in mental health outcomes. The remainder of the article describes a research and action agenda that is needed to successfully implement the New Beginnings Program in domestic relations courts.
Multiplanar visualization of blood flow using echocardiographic particle imaging velocimetry.

echocardiographic particle imaging velocimetry (echo-piv) is a noninvasive technique where acoustic reflections from ultrasound contrast agents are tracked frame by frame for characterizing 2-dimensional cardiac and vascular flow fields. Three-dimensional asymmetries in flow sequence can be
Comparison of Microbial Phytase and Dicalcium Phosphate for Growth and Bone Mineralization of Pond-Raised Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

Abstract This study evaluated the use of microbial phytase as replacement for inorganic phosphorus supplement in diets for pond-raised channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Channel catfish fingerlings (average weight: 23 g) were stocked into twelve 0.04-ha ponds at a rate of 18,525 fish/ha. Four ponds were used for each treatment. Fish were fed one of three experimental diets containing 250 or 500 FTU (phytase unit) phytase/kg, or 0.75% dicalcium phosphate once daily to satiation from May to October, 2000. No differences were observed in diet consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, survival, or bone ash and phosphorus concentrations among fish fed different diets. Based on these results it appears that a phytase concentration of 250 FTU/kg diet applied post-pelleting can replace the dicalcium phosphate supplement in channel catfish diets without affecting fish growth and bone mineralization under pond culture conditions. We recommend that a phytase level of 500 FTU/kg diet be used and that the di...
Application of Mobile Agents in Mobile Data Access Systems: A Prototype

Creating a global information-sharing environment in the presence of autonomy and heterogeneity of data sources is a difficult task. When adding mobility and wireless medium to this mix, the constraints on bandwidth, connectivity, and resources worsen the problem. Our past research in global information sharing systems resulted in the design, implementation, and prototype of a search engine, the summary schemas model, which supports imprecise global accesses to the data sources while preserving local autonomy. We extended the scope of our search engine by incorporating mobile agent technology. The use of mobile agents alleviates many problems associated with wireless communication. We devised and implemented the MAMDAS system, which applies mobile agent technology in a mobile data access system framework. As shown by our experimental study, MAMDAS achieved better performance, scalability, portability, and robustness compared to its predecessors.
Clinicopathologic characterization of squamous-cell carcinoma arising from pilonidal disease in association with condylomata acuminatum in HIV-infected patients: report of two cases.

Pilonidal disease is a common acquired condition believed to arise from penetration of short hairs into the subcutaneous tissue that induces a cyst or sinus formation. Malignant degeneration is rare and is typically seen only after decades of antecedent disease presence. Condylomata acuminatum in association with pilonidal disease have been described in two prior case reports, however, the coexistence of condyloma with pilonidal disease complicated by malignant degeneration has not been previously reported. Condylomata have known potential for malignant degeneration and are correlated with human papilloma virus infection, with certain serotypes of higher oncogenic potential. Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus and human papilloma virus is associated with higher rates of anal neoplasia. We report two cases of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with the constellation of pilonidal disease, condylomata acuminatum, and subsequent malignant degeneration into squamous-cell carcinoma. In contrast to other case reports in the literature, these two patients had considerably shorter antecedent periods of pilonidal disease before malignant degeneration was detected. Both cases also had intractable courses. We conclude that the existence of condylomata acuminatum and pilonidal disease in an immunocompromised patient may represent a more ominous condition than solitary pilonidal disease. Therefore, careful inspection of the pilonidal area in human immunodefiency virus-infected patients presenting with condylomata is important and earlier intervention should be considered. Moreover, further evaluation of the prevalence of squamous-cell carcinoma arising from pilonidal disease complicated by condylomata, particularly in the immunosuppressed, is warranted.
The use of specific metabolic inhibitors to study morphological mutants of Drosophila

Abstract The development of Drosophila upon medium supplemented with just sub-lethal concentrations of specific metabolic inhibitors for pathways of central importance has been studied. Critical biochemical pathways such as glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and electron transport must be functional to sustain life and permit development but the developmental systems of Drosophila appear to be sufficiently buffered so that partial blocks in these sequences do not result in morphological abnormalities. Ethionine does produce a phenocopy of eyeless and converts the recessive eyeless factor into a semi-dominant gene. No differences in the metabolism of methionine- 14 C between wild-type and eyeless strains can be detected. Various Drosophila strains show dramatic differences in their relative resistance to actidione, an inhibitor that specifically blocks protein synthesis.
Effects of changes in ventilation on respiratory discomfort during isocapnic exercise

We studied the effects of changes in the level of ventilation on respiratory discomfort during isocapnic exercise. Six subjects exercised at 60 W on a cycle ergometer. They initially breathed 2.5% CO2 in oxygen for 75 breaths. Ventilatory parameters of the last 10 breaths were used as controls. In 7 subsequent test sessions each lasting 2 min alternating with 2 min free breathing periods, subjects tried to achieve a target ventilation ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 times the control with a visual feedback system. End-tidal CO2 was regulated automatically at the control level by changing the inspired CO2. Breathing discomfort was measured at the end of each session using a visual analog scale. Isocapnic constraining of ventilation (0.7 times the control) during exercise significantly increased respiratory discomfort (p < 0.05). Increases in ventilation had no significant effect. These results indicate that respiratory discomfort during exercise is exaggerated when the level of ventilation falls below that spontaneously adopted even when chemical drives are held constant.
Semantics naturalized: Propositional indexing plus interactive perception

Abstract A concrete proposal is presented as to how semantics should be naturalized. Rather than attempting to naturalize propositions, they are treated as abstract entities that index concrete cognitive states. In turn the relevant concrete cognitive states are identified via perceptual classifications of worldly states, with the aid of an interactive theory of perception. The approach enables a broadly realist theory of propositions, truth and cognitive states to be preserved, with propositions functioning much as abstract mathematical constructs do in the non-semantic sciences, but with a much more specific propositional indexing scheme than previous naturalistic proposals were able to achieve.
FUNCTION GRANULARITY ESTIMATION FOR MULTIMODAL OPTIMIZATION

In this article, we study the subspace function granularity and present a method to estimate the sharing distance and the optimal population size. To achieve multimodal function optimization, nichi...
Augustine’s Contribution to the Republican Tradition

The present argument focuses on part of Augustine’s defense of Christianity in The City of God. There Augustine argues that the Christian religion did not cause the sack of Rome by the Goths in 410 CE. Augustine revised the definitions of a ‘people’ and ‘republic’ found in Cicero’s De Republica in light of the impossibility of true justice in a world corrupted by sin. If one returns these definitions to their original context, and accounts for Cicero’s own political teachings, one finds that Augustine follows Cicero’s republicanism on several key points. First, civil rule differs from mastery over slaves. Second, political life is indeterminate, so a republic could be any regime suitable for governing free human beings. Third, the prudent man may not abstain from public service. For Augustine the duty to public service is connected to his tragic portrayal of life and suffering in society after ‘the fall’. Augustine’s contribution to the republican tradition is not to be found in the concept of a natural o...
Grateful recounting enhances subjective well-being: The importance of grateful processing

We used a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a gratitude 3-blessings treatment for enhancing subjective well-being. Although several experimental studies have investigated gratitude interventions, many of these have used inadequate control conditions, and currently we know little about how gratitude treatments work. In this study, subjects were randomly assigned to one of three daily 1-week treatments: memory placebo, pride 3-blessings, or gratitude 3-blessings. The gratitude 3-blessings treatment significantly outperformed the comparison treatments in enhancing well-being. Moreover, the well-being of those in the gratitude treatment continued to climb after the treatment phase, similar to the findings of Seligman, Steen, Park, and Peterson (2005). We also found that the gratitude treatment enhanced the accessibility of positive memories compared to the comparison treatments. Our results suggest that exercises like the gratitude 3-blessings treatment may train cognitive biases that a...
Residual and Postliquefaction Strength of a Liquefiable Sand

AbstractSeismic design of geotechnical structures often requires estimates of how shearing resistance of liquefiable soil is reduced to its minimum value (residual strength, sr) as pore pressures build up and is subsequently regained as pore pressures dissipate. It was envisioned that the shear strength of liquefying sands could be measured in-flight in a seismic geotechnical centrifuge model by pulling thin coupons (plates) horizontally through the sand models before, during, and after shaking to simulate the large strains and strain rates associated with liquefaction flow failures. This paper presents the results of seismic centrifuge tests that were used to make such measurements. Companion ring shear (RS) tests also are described. Although centrifuge and RS residual strengths were generally similar and increased with relative density, the centrifuge sr and sr/σvo′ (sr divided by preshaking effective vertical stress) increased significantly with small changes in relative density, while the RS test sr a...
A prospective study of complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound in an ambulatory endoscopy center.

Background & Aims: Our aim was to assess the safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in an ambulatory endoscopy center (AEC). Methods: Complications occurring in consecutive patients undergoing ERCP or EUS from March 2003 to February 2004 at our AEC were recorded prospectively. Comprehensive complications were defined as consensus criteria plus other adverse events: use of reversal agents, unplanned hospital admission, hospitalization beyond planned 23-hour observation, unplanned emergency department or primary care provider visit, and 30-day mortality. Results: A total of 497 patients (median age, 57 y; 82% American Society of Anesthesiologists class II or III) underwent 685 procedures. Monitored or general anesthesia was used in 25% of EUS and 50% of ERCP procedures. ERCP interventions were as follows: biliary or pancreatic stenting (N = 168), stone extraction (N = 70), sphincterotomy (N = 62), sphincter of Oddi manometry (N = 53), other (N = 66). EUS indications were as follows: known or suspected pancreatic mass (N = 103), upper-gastrointestinal mass/submucosal lesion (N = 71), luminal malignancy staging (N = 40), other (N = 96); 52% had EUS fine-needle aspiration. There was follow-up evaluation in 94% of the patients. There were 43 comprehensive ERCP complications (12.9%), 18 (5.4%) of these fit consensus criteria: pancreatitis (N = 14), cholangitis (N = 2), and perforation (N = 2). There were 9 comprehensive EUS complications (2.9%), 2 (.7%) of these fit consensus criteria: pancreatitis (N = 1) and bleeding (N = 1). Other adverse events for ERCP and EUS were as follows: prolongation of 23-hour observation (N = 14), emergency room visits (N = 3), primary care physician visits (N = 6), use of reversal agents (N = 3), unplanned admissions (N = 2), infection (N = 3), and death (N = 1). Conclusions: ERCP and EUS can be performed in an AEC, provided mechanisms for admission and anesthesia support are in place. The assessment of comprehensive complications is more reflective of adverse events related to ERCP and EUS than consensus criteria alone.
If the Genes Fit, Wear Them: A Proposal for Light-Handed Regulation of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests from the Federal Trade Commission as a Solution to a Regulatory Commons Problem

This article suggests that increased, fragmented regulation of Direct-to-Consumer genetic testing, as proposed by many commentators and interest groups, will not benefit consumers and risks hampering American innovation. This article briefly discusses some of the problems that can occur with broad, multi-agency regulation and specifically why it is unwarranted and ill-advised for Direct-to-Consumer genetic testing. Rather than focusing on hypothetical consumer harms, this article takes a holistic approach, taking into consideration the welfare of consumers and our nation’s interest in promoting innovation. The article goes on to propose a solution that refreshingly simple yet will maximize the benefits of the innovation while minimizing risks to consumers. The article theorizes that by simplifying the regulation scheme and decreasing the number of agencies involved, the remaining agencies will take greater ownership over the regulation and consumers will benefit.
Deficiencies in Over-Heated Soybean Oil Meal

Abstract THE adverse effect of heat upon the nutritive value of cereal proteins was demonstrated by Morgan and King (1926). Since the publication of their paper numerous other reports dealing with the effect of heat on the nutritive value of various proteins have appeared. Reference to much of the literature on this subject will be found in the papers by Greaves, Morgan and Loveen (1938) and Block et al. (1946). The adverse effect of excessive amounts of heat on soybean proteins has been reported by Mussehl (1942), Bird and Burkhardt (1943), and Evans and McGinnis (1946). In the studies reported herein an attempt has been made to determine vitamin and amino acid deficiencies that exist in over-heated soybean oil meal. EXPERIMENTAL Single Comb White Leghorn chicks were used in these experiments. In order to have chicks of comparable growing capacity in each group the following method of selecting chicks was adopted. . . .
VITA: variation-aware interconnect timing analysis for symmetric and skewed sources of variation considering variational ramp input

As technology scales down, timing verification of digital integrated circuits becomes an extremely difficult task due to statistical variations in the gate and wire delays. Statistical timing analysis techniques are being developed to tackle this important problem. In this paper, we propose a new framework for handling variation-aware interconnect timing analysis in which the sources of variation may have symmetric or skewed distributions. To achieve this goal, we express the resistance and capacitance of a line in canonical first order forms and then use these to compute the circuit moments. The variational moments are subsequently used to compute the interconnect delay and slew at each node of an RC tree. For this step, we combine known closed-form delay metrics such as Elmore and AWE-based algorithms to take advantage of the efficiency of the first category and the accuracy of the second. Experimental results show an average error of 2% for interconnect delay and slew with respect to SPICE-based Monte Carlo simulations.
Perspectives of Marine Meiofaunal Ecology

Meiofauna research has seen an increased ecological emphasis in the last ten years. The period prior to 1970 was primarily descriptive but current research is directed more toward testing hypotheses using the meiofauna. There is a fairly large descriptive base and generalities from a worldwide data set indicate that there are unique opportunities for additional studies. In this paper we present an overview of the historical development of meiofaunal research and a synopsis of the present knowledge, and provide our perceptions as to where meio fauna research needs to be directed. Hypothesis testing in the field, the role of meiofauna in total benthic energetics, and biological control mechanisms appear to be most fruitful avenues for future research.
Heterologous myb genes distinct from GL1 enhance trichome production when overexpressed in Nicotiana tabacum

Myb-class transcription factors implicated in cell shape regulation were overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum in an attempt to assess the extent to which cellular differentiation programs might be shared between these distantly related plants. GLABROUS 1, a myb gene required for trichome development in Arabidopsis, did not alter the trichome phenotype of the tobacco plants in which it was overexpressed. MIXTA, which in Antirrhinum majus is reported to regulate certain aspects of floral papillae development, did not complement the glabrous 1 mutant of Arabidopsis. However, 35S:MIXTA transformants of N. tabacum displayed various developmental abnormalities, most strikingly production of supernumerary trichomes on cotyledons, leaves and stems. In addition, floral papillae were converted to multicellular trichomes. CotMYBA, a myb gene which is expressed in Gossypium hirsutum ovules and has some homology to MIXTA, was also overexpressed in the two species. A similar but distinct syndrome of abnormalities, including the production of cotyledonary trichomes, was observed in 35S:CotMYBA tobacco transformants. However, CotMYBA did not alter trichome production in Arabidopsis. These results suggest that the trichomes of Arabidopsis and Nicotiana are merely analogous structures, and that the myb genes regulating their differentiation are specific and separate.
Influence of freezing rate oscillations and convection on eutectic microstructure

Abstract As discussed in our review paper (Wilcox, W. R. and Regel, L. L., Microgravity Quarterly, 1994, 4, 147–156), the influence of microgravity on eutectic microstructure has been rather erratic and largely unexplained. Directional solidification in microgravity sometimes coarsened the structure, sometimes made it finer, and sometimes, even on the same system, had no measurable effect. Theoretical models predicted no influence of the weak buoyancy-driven convection that occurs in the vertical Bridgman technique on earth. Thus, we hypothesized that freezing rate fluctuations due to irregular convection might be responsible. For example, with a fibrous microstructure an increase in freezing rate must cause new fibers to form, either by branching or by nucleation. A decrease in freezing rate would cause fibers to terminate by overgrowth of the matrix phase. If the kinetics of fiber formation differs from that for fiber termination, an oscillatory freezing rate would cause the average fiber spacing to deviate from that at a steady freezing rate. We have been investigating this hypothesis both experimentally and theoretically. Vertical Bridgman experiments were performed on the MnBi–Bi eutectic with freezing rate oscillations caused by periodic electric current pulses passed through the material. With increased current amplitude, more and more grains exhibited irregular microstructures. Of the grains with continued quasi-regular rod structure, the microstructure became finer. This result was contrary to that expected from our hypothesis for this system. Numerical modeling also predicted that an oscillatory freezing rate should yield a finer microstructure. It was also predicted that freezing interface oscillations should cause the average melt composition at the freezing rate to deviate from the eutectic. This results in the formation of a composition boundary layer of sufficient thickness that it would become sensitive to convection. Hence we have arrived at a revised hypothesis. On earth, irregular convection causes freezing rate fluctuations that change the interfacial melt composition, leading to a thick composition boundary layer. Convection interacts with this boundary layer to change the interfacial melt composition, thereby altering the response of the system to freezing rate fluctuations.
An Integrated Analysis of Migration and Remittances: Modeling Migration as a Mechanism for Selection

Prior work has modeled individuals’ migration and remittance behavior separately, and reported mixed empirical support for various remittance motivations. This study offers an integrated approach, and considers migration as a mechanism for selection in a censored probit model of remittance behavior. This approach leads to different conclusions about the determinants of remittance behavior in the Thai internal migration setting. To the extent that these determinants capture different remittance motivations, as prior research has presumed, the analysis also provides varying support for these motivations. These results suggest that migration and remittance behavior are interrelated, and it is crucial for an analysis of remittance behavior to control for the selectivity of migration.
Avoiding loss of fairness owing to failures in fair data exchange systems

Abstract Fair exchange between mutually distrusted parties has been recognized as an important issue in electronic commerce. However, the correctness (fairness) of the existing fair exchange protocols that use a Trusted Third Party (TTP) is based on the assumption that during an exchange there are no failures at any of the local systems involved in the exchange, which is too strong in many situations. This paper points out that (1) system failures may cause loss of fairness, and (2) most of the existing fair exchange protocols that use a TTP cannot ensure fairness in presence of system failures. This paper presents two categories of techniques, transaction-based approaches and message-logging-based approaches, to help develop data exchange systems that can recover from system failures without losing fairness.
Common structure and toxic function of amyloid oligomers implies a common mechanism of pathogenesis

Recent findings indicate that soluble amyloid oligomers may represent the primary pathologic species in degenerative diseases. These amyloid oligomers share common structural features and the ability to permeabilize membranes, suggesting that they also share a common primary mechanism of pathogenesis. Membrane permeabilization by amyloid oligomers may initiate a common group of downstream pathologic processes, including intracellular calcium dyshomeostasis, production of reactive oxygen species, altered signaling pathways, and mitochondrial dysfunction that represent key effectors of cellular dysfunction and cell death in amyloid-associated degenerative disease, such as sporadic inclusion-body myositis.
Quantum dot-based theranostics

Luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots (QDs), have advanced the fields of molecular diagnostics and nanotherapeutics. Much of the initial progress for QDs in biology and medicine has focused on developing new biosensing formats to push the limit of detection sensitivity. Nevertheless, QDs can be more than passive bio-probes or labels for biological imaging and cellular studies. The high surface-to-volume ratio of QDs enables the construction of a “smart” multifunctional nanoplatform, where the QDs serve not only as an imaging agent but also a nanoscaffold catering for therapeutic and diagnostic (theranostic) modalities. This mini review highlights the emerging applications of functionalized QDs as fluorescence contrast agents for imaging or as nanoscale vehicles for delivery of therapeutics, with special attention paid to the promise and challenges towards QD-based theranostics.
Textbooks: how we choose them, how we use them, shall we lose them?

This paper describes the results of a survey designed to explore how computer science educators view textbooks: how they choose them, how they use them, how they view the role of textbooks within the curriculum, and how they view the future of textbooks.The survey was posted on the Internet, with invitation email messages sent to the mailing list for SIGCSE, the ACM's Special Interest Group for Computer Science Education, asking them to fill out the survey. Of the 1053 addresses on the mailing list, 188 recipients responded, giving a response rate of almost 18%.This paper describes the demographics of the respondents, presents the objective responses, and provides a content analysis of the subjective responses.
Reducing test-data volume using P-testable scan chains in circuits with multiple scan chains

For a scan design with multiple scan chains, we say that a scan chain is P-testable if it is possible to achieve complete fault coverage for the circuit (i.e., detect all the detectable target faults) when the scan chain is driven from a source that produces values having a property P. For example, a scan chain is random-testable if it is possible to achieve complete fault coverage for the circuit when the scan chain is driven from a source of pseudorandom values for the complete test application process. In a similar way, we define periodic-testable and combination-testable scan chains. All the sources we consider for P-testable scan chains are simple to implement on-chip. By identifying P-testable scan chains and driving them from the appropriate on-chip sources, we reduce the number of scan chains that need to be driven from an external tester. In this way, we reduce the number of scan inputs that a tester needs to control and the amount of test data that the external tester needs to store and apply to the circuit. Existing test data compression techniques can be used to further reduce the test data volume.
Accurate and efficient evaluation of circuit yield and yield gradients

A method is described for estimating the yield and yield gradient based on a priori geometric approximation of the acceptability region in the disturbance space. Circuit performance macromodeling is used to construct the acceptability region approximation. While yield evaluation can be carried out in either the performance space or parameter space, it is shown that for monolithic integrated circuits, the gradient of yield can only be estimated accurately in the disturbance space. >
Laser diode based new generation lidars

Recent technological advances in lasers and detectors now permit realization of relatively low cost and eye-safe lidars. Eye safety, even in the visible and near-IR regions, can be achieved by reducing laser pulse energies to a few micro-joules. The reduced signals due to such low transmitted pulse energies can be at least partially offset by operating at higher pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs). Laser diodes as lidar transmitter sources offer advantages of low cost, several available wavelengths and high PRFs, but they have also suffered from limitations of very low pulse energies, spectrally broad pulsed operation and wide beam divergence. However, the development of master oscillator-power amplifier (MOPA) laser diode configurations now offers the possibility of single-mode pulsed operation at microjoule and higher energy levels with reduced beam divergence. High efficiency photon counting avalanche photodiodes (APDs) have also become available which are capable of counting at high rates (/spl sim/20 MHz), thus permitting effective detection of micro-pulse lidar (MPL) signals. This paper addresses the design requirements of laser diode lidars, based on these technological innovations, to achieve effective aerosol and DIAL water vapor sensing.
THE USE OF CODED MICROWIRE TAGS IN MARK-RECAPTURE STUDIES OF JUVENILE CARIBBEAN SPINY LOBSTER, PANULIRUS ARGUS

Abstract To evaluate the suitability of using coded microwire tags (CWTs) to mark early-benthic-stage Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, we compared the survival, growth, and feeding of tagged and untagged lobsters held in the laboratory through the first five juvenile molts. We also examined the growth of 65 microwire-tagged lobsters released into the wild as early-benthic-stage juveniles. Tag retention rates of lobsters held in the laboratory were 86% for those tagged as first-stage juveniles and 96% for those tagged as second-stage juveniles; virtually all tag loss was confined to the first post-tag molt. Survival and growth rates of tagged second-stage juveniles in the laboratory did not significantly differ from those of untagged lobsters, but first-stage-tagged juveniles had lower growth rates than untagged lobsters did and a 25% post-tagging mortality rate. The mean growth rate of juveniles released into the wild was 0.82 mm CL/wk, but growth differed by season; no sex- or habitat-specific d...
HSP27 modulates agonist-induced association of translocated RhoA and PKC-α in muscle cells of the colon

The recruitment of signal transduction molecules to the membrane is crucial for the efficient coupling of extracellular signals and contractile response. The trafficking is dynamic. We have investi...
Storage Workload Isolation via Tier Warming: How Models Can Help.

Storage systems are often deployed in a tiered form to enable high performance and availability. These tiers utilize all possible volatile and non-volatile storage technologies, including DRAM, SSD, and HDD. The tradeoffs among their cost, features, and capabilities can make their effective integration into a single storage entity complex. Here, we propose an autonomic technique that learns user traffic patterns in a storage system over long time-scales to optimize user performance but also volume of completed system work. Our purpose is to multiplex as best as possible user workload with storage system features (e.g., voluminous internal system work) such that the latter is not starved but rather completed with minimal impact on user performance. Key to achieving the above is to use an autonomic learning engine to predict when the user workload intensity increases/decreases and then proactively stop/start bulky internal system work. Being proactive allows the system to effectively bring into the fast tier the active user working set just-in-time and right before it is needed most, i.e., when user traffic suddenly peaks. We illustrate the effectiveness of this mechanism by using both trace driven simulations from production systems as well experiments on a real testbed.
Anticoagulation therapy for venous thromboembolism in patients with gynecologic malignancy

Anticoagulation therapy in 74 patients with gynecologic malignancy and venous thromboembolism was evaluated as to hemorrhagic complications, recurrent thrombosis, and completion of prescribed course. Clinically significant bleeding complications occurred in 25 patients and the course of anticoagulant therapy was not completed in 29 patients because of bleeding complications or death within 3 months. Venous thromboembolism recurred in 11% of patients. Risk factors associated with hemorrhagic complications and unsuccessful completion of anticoagulation therapy include advanced age, advanced stage of malignancy, incomplete surgical resection of tumor, and systemic chemotherapy. Complications of anticoagulant therapy were found to be excessive when compared to those in reports dealing with noncancer patients and may exceed the benefits of therapy in certain patients. Alternative methods of management for this group of high-risk patients are discussed.
Ultralow-Power Pseudospintronic Devices via Exciton Condensation in Coupled Two-Dimensional Material Systems

“Pseudospintronic” device concepts, novel “beyond-CMOS” device proposals targeted toward revolutionizing the current semiconductor technology based on MOSFETs and CMOS logic, are addressed in detail. These pseudospin devices include the voltage-controlled Bilayer pseudoSpin Field-Effect Transistor (BiSFET) and the current-controlled Bilayer pseudoSpin Junction Transistor (BiSJT). MOSFETs are confronted by the intractable physics of thermionic emission and resulting source-to-drain leakage that limits voltage scaling. As a result, CMOS faces an “energy crisis” much as the one faced by bipolar junction transistor-based logic that led to CMOS. As for many other beyond-CMOS concepts, these pseudospintronic devices are based on a completely different physics of switching, potentially allowing much lower voltage and power operation. These pseudospintronic device concepts employ possible room-temperature interlayer electron–hole exciton condensates between two dielectrically separated layers of two-dimensional (2D) materials for subthermal voltage (sub-k B T/q) switching, specifically from a nearly shorted interlayer conductance state to a highly resistive interlayer conductance state with increasing interlayer voltage. These collective exciton states with their “which-layer” degree of freedom are somewhat analogous to collective spin states in magnets, which is the origin of the “pseudospintronics” moniker. Device performance in the presence of such condensates is the primary focus of this work; the possibility of room-temperature condensates, itself, is addressed by other research still in progress. We begin with a discussion of the underlying physics. Graphene-based pseudospintronic systems then are analyzed using quantum transport simulations incorporating the nonlocal exchange interaction. However, the essential transport physics should be much the same for other 2D material systems, including transition metal dichalcogenides for which the realization of the condensate may be easier. The BiSFET and BiSJT device concepts are presented in detail, and basic logic gate designs are illustrated for each. Compact device models are developed and SPICE-level circuit simulations are performed to demonstrate possible switching energies on the scale of or below a tenth of an attojoule, well below even end-of-the-road-map CMOS. However, like many other beyond-CMOS concepts, these devices remain concepts without solid experimental embodiments. The fabrication concerns of such novel devices are also discussed along with recent experimental progress.
Beyond Correlation: Using the Elements of Variance for Conditional Means and Probabilities

We derive conditional means from partial moment quadrants of the joint distribution. Restricting quadrants enables scenario analysis without the need for an underlying correlation assumption. Weighting of these conditional means permits more generalized scenarios with embedded dependence structures. The resulting analysis simultaneously considers multiple correlation assumptions and demonstrates that correlation is not necessary to derive expected values, rather merely a probability of that expected value for a given condition. Extending the analysis to mean/variance optimization identifies a major philosophical inconsistency with its treatment of correlation.
Goal Development Theories and the Use of Terminal Goals in Organizational Goal Setting

Corporate goals are generally established to provide guidance and direction for employees and managers to focus organizational efforts. A review of existing literature and theories about approaches to goal development are used to explore how goals that have a finite target may have an impact on the organizational climate and employee perspectives. A proposed model is offered which describes how the type of goal may have an effect on employees’ commitment to the organization, expectations of reward, and employment transitions.