cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein Content of Shiitake Mushroom Grown on Nitrogen Soaked Sweetgum Logs

Shiitake mushrooms are used as a source of protein and meaty flavor in many vegetarian diets. While substrate and geographical location are two factors affecting nutrient content, little research has been done on the nutrient content of shiitake grown in north Alabama. The purpose of this study was to compare the protein and amino acid contents of the 'West Wind' strain of shiitake mushrooms grown on sweetgum logs soaked in tap water, versus the protein and amino acid content of the same strain grown on logs soaked in tap water amended with different nitrogen (N) solutions (urea, sulfur-coated urea, and ammonium sulfate), at different rates (0, 3, and 6 g N/L water), and harvested from three successive soakings. Chemical analysis was conducted on samples for protein and amino acids. Analysis of variance showed there was no significant difference in the protein content of shiitake grown on sweetgum logs based on type of nitrogen treatment, rate, or soak period. However, urea showed indications that it may increase protein levels. There was no significant difference in amino acid content based on treatment or rate. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend showing mushrooms from logs soaked at a rate of 3 g N/L water had the highest levels of each amino acid. There were significantly lower levels of amino acids in mushrooms harvested during the summer months. Nitrogen soak solutions did not increase protein or amino acid content, but protein and amino acid contents of shiitake in north Alabama are better understood.
Human gait recognition at sagittal plane

The reliable extraction of characteristic gait features from image sequences and their recognition are two important issues in gait recognition. In this paper, we propose a novel two-step, model-based approach to gait recognition by employing a five-link biped locomotion human model. We first extract the gait features from image sequences using the Metropolis-Hasting method. Hidden Markov Models are then trained based on the frequencies of these feature trajectories, from which recognition is performed. As it is entirely based on human gait, our approach is robust to different type of clothes the subjects wear. The model-based gait feature extraction step is insensitive to noise, cluttered background or even moving background. Furthermore, this approach also minimizes the size of the data required for recognition compared to model-free algorithms. We applied our method to both the USF Gait Challenge data set and CMU MoBo data set, and achieved recognition rate of 61 and 96%, respectively. We further studied the relationship between number of subjects within data set and the recognition rate. The results suggest that the recognition rate is significantly limited by the distance of the subject to the camera.
Manipulating Connectivity to Control Fracture in Network Polymer Adhesives

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are applied to fracture in highly cross-linked, polymer networks. Random polymer networks between two solid surfaces are created by simulating the dynamical cross-linking process. Simple, ordered networks are constructed geometrically, which enables easy manipulation of the network connectivity. The failure strain of tensile pull and shear simulations is related to the minimal paths through the network connecting the solid surfaces. This result is confirmed by using the ordered networks to explicity vary the minimal paths over a very wide range. Failure strains are constructed in the ordered systems to be either larger or smaller than the dynamically formed networks. The constraints imposed by the network connectivity control the tightness of local deformations.
Surfactant-Templated Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Patterned Nanoporous Titania Supports Loaded with Platinum Nanoparticles

Hexagonally patterned porous titania is synthesized from a titanium isopropoxide precursor using a viscous surfactant template separating nanoscopic bicontinuous channels of water and isooctane. Subsequent salt reduction in the aqueous nanochannels decorates the pore surfaces with well-separated platinum (Pt) nanoparticles. Because of the decreased mass transfer resistance provided by the patterned and interconnected macropores that persist throughout the support, these nanocomposites exhibit a significantly higher carbon monoxide oxidation efficiency than that obtained with a commercial support that has a fourfold larger specific surface area. This simple templated synthesis strategy for creating highly organized composites has wide applications beyond the one reported here, including photocatalysis, photonic crystals, sensors, and solar cell assemblies.
Human papillomavirus‐associated squamous cell carcinoma of the nail bed in African‐American patients

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in the development of digital squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Case reports in the literature mostly identify HPV type 16 present in tumors, but HPV types 2, 31, 34, 35, and 73 have also been isolated. Methods Two cases of digital SCC associated with HPV 16 in young African-American men are presented. Results and conclusions Digital SCC associated with HPV may be difficult to evaluate and treat, particularly in African-Americans and patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We discuss the need for careful evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of these individuals.
Hyperspherical analysis of doubly and triply excited states of Li

A computational method for calculating the hyperspherical adiabatic potential curves for three-electron atomic systems is presented. This method allows us to obtain accurate potential curves for any symmetries more efficiently. The potential curves for the Li({sup 2}S{sup e}) symmetry are analyzed. For the ground state, the energy calculated using the single channel adiabatic approximation is in good agreement with experiment. For doubly excited states, in the region of small and medium hyperradius the potential curves are similar to those for the doubly excited states of two-electron atoms and these curves can be classified using the same set of K, T, and A quantum numbers. For triply excited states, the potential curves are used to show the different Rydberg series that converge to the doubly excited states of Li{sup +}. We also illustrate the rotor structure in the energies of triply excited states of Li. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Energy Conservation Using Cost Minimization for Household Space Heating

Building insulation is considered as a solution to reduce the energy cost for both residential and commercial buildings. However, determining the best combination of insulation materials that result into the lowest total ownership cost is now becoming a bigger challenge. Various factors influence the efficiency of heat transfer within a room including geometry and size of the room, ambient temperature, heat and sink sources presented inside the building, type of insulation materials, etc. The aim of this paper is to develop an optimization-based decision making tool to help house owners select the best combination of given insulation materials considering all these factors. The purpose of design approach adopted in this paper is to minimize total ownership cost while providing the required heating in the building. The SQP, Quasi-Newton, line-search algorithm was used to obtain the optimized thermal conductivity values for the combination of insulation material to be used in the walls, floor, ceiling, window and the door of a room, along with the width of the air gap to be kept. The results help in deciding what combination of insulation material will achieve the required heating for the house owner while keep the total cost incurred to be minimum.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
A physical and functional interaction between yeast Pol4 and Dnl4-Lif1 links DNA synthesis and ligation in nonhomologous end joining.

Genetic studies have implicated theSaccharomyces cerevisiae POL4 gene product in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks by nonhomologous end joining. Here we show that Pol4 preferentially catalyzes DNA synthesis on small gaps formed by the alignment of linear duplex DNA molecules with complementary ends, a DNA substrate specificity that is compatible with its predicted role in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Pol4 also interacts directly with the Dnl4 subunit of the Dnl4-Lif1 complex via its N-terminal BRCT domain. This interaction stimulates the DNA synthesis activity of Pol4 and, to a lesser extent, the DNA joining activity of Dnl4-Lif1. Notably, the joining of DNA substrates that require the combined action of Pol4 and Dnl4-Lif1 is much more efficient than the joining of similar DNA substrates that require only ligation. Thus, the physical and functional interactions between Pol4 and Dnl4-Lif1 provide a molecular mechanism for both the recruitment of Pol4 to in vivo DNA double-strand breaks and the coupling of the gap filling DNA synthesis and DNA joining reactions that complete the microhomology-mediated pathway of nonhomologous end joining.
Serial transmission in rodents of neurodegeneration from transgenic mice expressing mutant prion protein

Abstract Two lines of transgenic (Tg) mice expressing high (H) levels of the mutant P101L prion protein (PrP) developed a neurologic illness and central nervous system pathology indistinguishable from experimental murine scrapie; these mice were designated Tg(MoPrP-P101L)H. Brain homogenates from Tg(MoPrP-P101L)H mice were inoculated intracerebrally into CD-1 Swiss mice, Syrian hamsters, and Tg196 mice, Tg mice expressing the MoPrP-P101L transgene at low levels. None of the CD-1 mice developed central nervous system dysfunction, whereas approximately 10% of hamsters and approximately 40% of the Tg196 mice manifested neurologic signs between 117 and 639 days after inoculation. Serial transmission of neurodegeneration in Tg196 mice and Syrian hamsters was initiated with brain extracts, producing incubation times of approximately 400 and approximately 75 days, respectively. Although the Tg(MoPrP-P101L)H mice appear to accumulate only low levels of infections prions in their brains, the serial transmission of disease to inoculated recipients argues that prion formation occurs de novo in the brains of these uninoculated animals. These Tg mouse studies, taken together with similar findings in humans dying of inherited prion diseases, provide additional evidence that prions lack a foreign nucleic acid.
Recent advances in separation of roughness, waviness and form

Engineering surfaces are comprised of a range of spatial wavelengths. Filtering techniques are commonly adopted to separate the different wavelength components into well-defined bandwidths. Filtering is done prior to numerical characterization and it is also essential for extracting information needed to provide process feedback and establish functional correlation. This paper reviews commonly used filters in surface metrology like the 2RC, Gaussian and several new ones currently under research such as the spline, morphological, wavelets, regression filters and robust regression filters. The need for these new filters and examples illustrating the features of these filters are also presented.
TGF-β3-induced chondrogenesis in co-cultures of chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells on biodegradable scaffolds.

In this work, it was hypothesized that co-cultures of articular chondrocytes (ACs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) would exhibit enhanced sensitivity to chondrogenic stimuli, such as TGF-β3, and would require a reduced concentration of TGF-β3 to achieve an equivalent level of chondrogenesis compared to monocultures of each cell type. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that compared to monocultures, the chondrogenic phenotype of AC/MSC co-cultures would be more stable upon the removal of TGF-β3 from the culture medium. These hypotheses were investigated by culturing ACs and MSCs alone and in a 1:3 ratio on electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) scaffolds. All cell populations were cultured for two weeks with 0, 1, 3, or 10 ng/ml of TGF-β3. After two weeks growth factor supplementation was removed, and the constructs were cultured for two additional weeks. Cell proliferation, extracellular matrix production, and chondrogenic gene expression were evaluated after two and four weeks. The results demonstrated that co-cultures of ACs and MSCs require a reduced concentration and duration of TGF-β3 exposure to achieve an equivalent level of chondrogenesis compared to AC or MSC monocultures. Thus, the present work implicates that the promise of co-cultures for cartilage engineering is enhanced by their robust phenotype and heightened sensitivity to TGF-β3.
Regulation of butyrate uptake in Caco-2 cells by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

Butyrate and the other short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the most abundant anions in the colonic lumen. Also, butyrate is the preferred energy source for colonocytes and has been shown to regulat...
Time‐space variation of seismic S‐wave coda attenuation (Qc−1) and magnitude distribution (b‐values) for the Petatlan Earthquake

Average S-wave coda-Q (Qc) at 6 Hz and to about 10 sec after the S-wave arrival shows: (1) temporal variation positively correlated with the magnitude distribution parameter b for foreshocks and aftershocks of the 1979 Petatlan, Mexico earthquake; (2) spatial variation through the aftershock area, positively correlated with b, high Qc -b values at the two activity centers, intermediate values in between and landward, and low values toward the Middle America Trench, which remain low for two weeks after the main shock; and (3) five-foreshock average Qc = 135±1.6% and eleven-aftershock average Qc= 175±1.3% for the eastern asperity. The b values—and possibly Qc values—seem to correlate with the level of aftershock activity.
The Factorial Validity of the Cornell Critical Thinking Test for a Junior High School Sample

For a sample of 138 eighth and ninth grade students a principal factors solution of the intercorrelations among 71 items of the Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT), Level X revealed five identifiable dimensions following a varimax rotation: (a) Relevance, (b) Irrelevance, (c) Differentiating Levels of Reliability of Observations or of Authorities, (d) Accuracy of Deduction, and (e) Determination of the Accuracy of an Assumption. Only the Accuracy of Deduction factor appeared to correspond closely to the dimension hypothesized by the test authors. Each one of at least three rotated factors seemed to portray a unique variance component reflecting homogeneous structure or content characteristics of a particular test section rather than common-factor variance suggesting a meaningful psychological construct. It was concluded that the CCTT may be lacking substantially in construct validity, as the psychological nature of four of the five rotated factors could not be readily interpreted.
Electromagnetic properties of the neutron

Abstract The review is devoted to the study of the main electromagnetic properties of the neutron: measurement of the magnetic moment μ n , investigations over many years of the electric charge structure, the search for the neutron electric charge q n , the electric dipole moment D n and the electric polarizability of the neutron.
Heart Disease in Pregnancy. Second Edition.

Celia Oakley and Carole A. Warnes, eds 354 pages. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing; 2007. $114.95. ISBN: 1-4051-3488-7 Oakley and Warnes’ second edition of Heart Disease in Pregnancy is a concise portable text that incorporates the views and practices of international experts to aid the reader in caring for the unique patient population of gravid women with heart disease. The highly readable text has a logical framework, starting with physiological changes in pregnancy and flowing through common, then rare, high-risk cardiovascular states. The chapters culminate in labor and delivery, with anesthetic approaches, then transition to the important issues of genetic counseling and contraception. Providing quick, easy access to information on basic physiology, disease states, and management strategies, it will be of interest to a very broad professional base. The first few chapters offer standard reviews of the response of the heart to pregnancy and physiological rather than pathological secondary changes in the physical examination. Cardiac testing during pregnancy is detailed. Importantly, the first pathology addressed is congenital heart disease, which has overtaken rheumatic valvular disease as the most common preexisting cardiac condition in women of childbearing age. The British perspective is illuminating, with subtle changes in nomenclature, …
Antibiotic activity of polyketide products derived from combinatorial biosynthesis: implications for directed evolution.

A library of over 100 polyketides, generated via combinatorial cloning of genes encoding subunits of aromatic polyketide synthases, was screened for molecules capable of inhibiting the growth of grampositive bacteria. A total of 26 polyketides, with varying levels of antibiotic activity in filter-disk assays, were purified. Most bioactive polyketides were produced as relatively minor compounds (< 1 mg/l), although two major anthraquinones, with yields in the range of 10–100 mg/l, were also identified and structurally characterized. When tested againstBacillus subtilis 168β, they were found to cause a 50% reduction in colony-forming units at concentrations of 20 and 300 μg/ml, respectively. We speculate that many of the minor (and possibly more potent) bioactive polyketides are synthesized via nonspecific enzymatic modifications of shunt products derived from engineered polyketide synthase pathways. If so, then these ‘fortuitous’ pathways should be amenable to further rationally guided manipulation. Our results support the notion that combinatorial biosynthesis can be used to generate novel, biologically active molecules. They also point to the feasibility of designing mutagenesis selection experiments aimed at the directed evolution of organic molecules with desirable pharmaceutical properties.
Basic principles of immunological surveillance of the normal central nervous system.

Unlike most bodily organs, the central nervous system (CNS) exists behind a blood-tissue barrier designed to minimize the passage of cells and macromolecules into the neural parenchyma. Yet, the CNS is routinely and effectively surveyed by the immune system. This review examines the mechanisms and participants in this immunological surveillance mechanism. The nature of the healthy blood-brain barrier, factors modifying it, and its central position in determining the number and nature of leukocytes permitted to enter, are considered. In addition the role in surveillance played by lymphatic drainage, migrating T and B lymphocytes, and elements of the monocyte/macrophage/microglia family are considered. While all these participants are known to be important in responding to a CNS antigen and/or establishing a site of inflammation in the nervous system, they also are major elements in maintaining the homeostasis of the CNS and permitting the necessary immunological surveillance of that organ.
Survey of American obstetricians regarding group B streptococcus: opinions and practice patterns

Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate attitudes and practice patterns of obstetricians related to screening for group B streptococcal colonization and providing intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis against early-onset neonatal infections with group B streptococcus. Study Design We mailed a survey to 546 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including members of the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network and non-Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network members. Stratified random selection was used to generate samples from both of these groups. Results The survey response rate was 60% for Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network members and 42% for non-Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network members. Of the 206 respondents who reported providing prenatal care, 97% collect screening samples at 35–37 weeks' gestational age. Anatomic sites used to collect samples were more variable: 62% include lower vagina and rectum, 26% include lower vagina and perianal skin but not rectum, and 5% include neither the perianal skin nor the rectum. First-line agents for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis were penicillin (71%), ampicillin (27%), and cefazolin (2%). For patients reporting a nonanaphylactic penicillin allergy, drugs used for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis were more varied: cefazolin (51%), clindamycin (36%), vancomycin (8%), and erythromycin (5%). For patients undergoing a labor induction starting with a cervical ripening agent, less than 40% typically give the first dose of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis before or at the time of cervical ripening agent administration, and 15% wait until the patient reaches the active phase of labor. Conclusion Gaps in knowledge and reported practice related to the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcus infections were similar to gaps in implementation of guidelines demonstrated in past studies. New approaches to improve implementation are warranted.
Twinned structure for shape memory: First-principles calculations

We have performed first-principles calculations for the crystal structures of binary shape memory alloys NiTi, PdTi, and PtTi along with the transformation from austenite to martensite. A detailed analysis of the transition pathway shows that both the cubic $B2$ and the orthorhombic $B19$ evolve to a twinned structure followed by a transformation to the monoclinic $B1{9}^{\ensuremath{'}}$. In contrast to the low-energy body-centered orthorhombic structure for NiTi, the existence of this twinned state is essential for storing the shape memory in smart alloys.
Probed-sinewave Paradigm: a Test of Models of Light-adaptation Dynamics

Studies of light adaptation have, in general, employed either aperiodic or periodic stimuli. In earlier work, models originally developed to predict the results from one tradition failed to predict results from the other but the models from the two traditions could be merged to predict phenomena from both. To further test these merged models, a paradigm combining both types of stimuli was used. The threshold for a brief flash (the probe) was measured at various phases on a background that was varied sinusoidally in time. The probe threshold depends upon the phase at which it is presented for all background frequencies used, 0-16 Hz. These threshold variations are not well described by a sinewave; the peak threshold is > 180 deg out of phase with the trough threshold. Further, the positions of the peaks and troughs shift fairly abruptly at background modulations of 4-8 Hz. The difference between the peak and trough thresholds varies as a function of temporal frequency in a manner approximating the temporal contrast sensitivity function. The dc level (mean threshold) does not. The peak-trough difference dominates at low frequencies of background modulation, while the dc level dominates for higher frequencies. Existing models of light adaptation do not predict the key features of the data.
IMMUNOLOGIC PRIMING OF INFANTS WITH A SINGLE DOSE OF H. INFLUENZAE TYPE B (Hib) POLYSACCHARIDE-N. MENINGITIDIS OUTER MEMBRANE PROTEIN (PS-OMP) CONJUGATE VACCINE

In a trial of its immunogenicity, 13 children from 2-6 months of age received a single dose of PS-OMF conjugate vaccine. Titers of antibody against Hib capsular PS(PRP) one month after immunization were determined at Merck Laboratories by radioimmunoassay with the use of 125I extrinsic labelled antigen. All 13 children had 1.0μg of antibody/ml after PS-OMP vaccine. Of the 7 children with 1.0μg of antibody/ml after PS-OMP vaccine, the titers of antibody one month after “boosting” with PRP vaccine increased in one child (from 19.6 to 31.2μg/ml), changed little in one child (from 1.0 to 1.1μg/ml) and decreased in two children (from 1.3 to 0.4μg/ml and from 1.5 to 0.4μg/ml, respectively). We conclude that the antibody responses of young infants to a single dose of PS-OMP conjugate vaccine vary: titers of antibody ≥1.0μg/ml develop in some infants, others are primed to achieve ≥1.0ug/ml after subsequent “boosting” with PRP vaccine, while others fail to have a substantial response.
A passive, sun-pointing, millimeter-scale solar sail

Abstract Taking inspiration from the orbital dynamics of dust, we find that spacecraft length scaling is a means of enabling infinite-impulse orbits that require no feedback control. Our candidate spacecraft is a 25 μm thick, 1 cm square silicon chip equipped with signal transmitting circuitry. This design reduces the total mass to less than 7.5 mg and enables the spacecraft bus itself to serve as a solar sail with characteristic acceleration on the order of 0.1 mm/s2. It is passive in that it maneuvers with no closed-loop actuation of orbital or attitude states. The unforced dynamics that result from an insertion orbit and a launch-vehicle separation determine its subsequent state evolution. We have developed a system architecture that uses solar radiation torques to maintain a sun-pointing heading and can be fabricated with standard microfabrication processes. This architecture has potential applications in heliocentric, geocentric, and three-body orbits.
Contribution of bottom-up and top-down motion processes to perceived position

Perceived position depends on many factors, including motion present in a visual scene. Convincing evidence shows that high-level motion perception--which is driven by top-down processes such as attentional tracking or inferred motion--can influence the perceived position of an object. Is high-level motion sufficient to influence perceived position, and is attention to or awareness of motion direction necessary to displace objects' perceived positions? Consistent with previous reports, the first experiment revealed that the perception of motion, even when no physical motion was present, was sufficient to shift perceived position. A second experiment showed that when subjects were unable to identify the direction of a physically present motion stimulus, the apparent locations of other objects were still influenced. Thus, motion influences perceived position by at least two distinct processes. The first involves a passive, preattentive mechanism that does not depend on perceptual awareness; the second, a top-down process that depends on the perceptual awareness of motion direction. Each contributes to perceived position, but independently of the other.
FREQUENCY DEPENDENT EPINEPHRINE UPTAKE IN ISOLATED ATRIA

(4 figures) In the course of experiments on the frequency force relation of atria following exposure to epinephrine (E) (BLOOMQUIST and ANGELAKOS, 1970), it was noticed that the rate at which driving stimuli were applied to the tissue had a great influence on the uptake of E. The stimuli used in these experiments were of extremely low intensity, less than 10 % above the cardiac muscle threshold, and presumably not of sufficient strength to bring about direct stimulation of the sympathetic nerves ( BLOOMQUIST, 1966; KOCHWESER, 1966). The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the mechanism by which driving or contraction frequency influenced E uptake. Stimulation with punctate electrodes with low current strengths was compared to massive stimulation with plate electrodes and high currents. Both ATP and calcium have been found to influence catecholamine uptake into sympathetic nerve endings (VON EULER, 1962; ANGELAKOS, 1964; ANGELAKOS and KING, 1965; TITUS and DENGLER, 1966) and therefore appeared to be likely candidates as factors, other than direct nerve stimulation, which might produce frequency dependent changes in catecholamine uptake. For this reason, experiments were also performed to test the effects of ATP and elevated calcium ion on E uptake at various frequencies of stimulation.
Use of Meta-Analysis to Evaluate Medical Questions of Interest: An Application to Studies of Secondary Prevention of Acute Myocardial Infarction

The popularity of meta-analysis in medical research can be attributed to the methodologic appeal of systematically identifying, reviewing, and combining individual studies, and explicitly reporting criteria used in their review. Meta-analysis also increases the chance of detecting effects of moderate size, which nevertheless have important public health implications, through minimization of biases and small random errors. The purpose of this report is to describe how a meta-analysis is performed, including protocol development, literature search strategy, considerations of study homogeneity, and combinability of studies. Methodologic issues concerning the conduct of meta-analysis are also discussed. A meta-analysis performed to evaluate the efficacy of verapamil usage in preventing secondary nonfatal myocardial infarctions among patients recovering from an acute myocardial infarction is presented to illustrate the issues.
Acute Aortic Syndromes

Acute aortic syndromes (AAS) comprise a group of potentially lethal conditions that require prompt recognition, diagnosis as well as acute medical stabilization and surgical intervention. The purpose of this article is to review the relevant variants of AAS presentation, as well as diagnostic and management issues, including adequate long-term medical therapy and follow-up imaging. In this context, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recently published guidelines on the management of thoracic aortic disease, drawing greater attention to these processes.
Systems analysis of circadian time-dependent neuronal epidermal growth factor receptor signaling

Background: Identifying the gene regulatory networks governing physiological signal integration remains an important challenge in circadian biology. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated in circadian function and is expressed in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the core circadian pacemaker. The transcription networks downstream of EGFR in the SCN are unknown but, by analogy to other SCN inputs, we expect the response to EGFR activation to depend on circadian timing. Results: We have undertaken a systems-level analysis of EGFR circadian time-dependent signaling in the SCN. We collected gene-expression profiles to study how the SCN response to EGFR activation depends on circadian timing. Mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to identify genes with circadian time-dependent EGFR regulation. The expression data were integrated with transcription-factor binding predictions through gene group enrichment analyses to generate robust hypotheses about transcription-factors responsible for the circadian phasedependent EGFR responses. Conclusion: The analysis results suggest that the transcriptional response to EGFR signaling in the SCN may be partly mediated by established transcription-factors regulated via EGFR transriptionfactors (AP1, Ets1, C/EBP), transcription-factors involved in circadian clock entrainment (CREB), and by core clock transcription-factors (Rorα). Quantitative real-time PCR measurements of several transcription-factor expression levels support a model in which circadian time-dependent EGFR responses are partly achieved by circadian regulation of upstream signaling components. Our study suggests an important role for EGFR signaling in SCN function and provides an example for gaining physiological insights through systems-level analysis.
A rigorous analysis of the generalized Rayleigh-Gans approximation

Since its introduction by Schiffer and Thielheim [1979], the generalized Rayleigh-Gans (GRG) approximation has frequently been employed to determine the scattering from thin dielectric cylinders. In Schiffer and Thielheim, the validity of the approximation is demonstrated for a thin circular cylinder at both the long wavelength and the short wavelength cases by direct comparison with Rayleigh and high frequency models, respectively. Although this provides strong evidence as to the validity of the GRG approximation, it does not prove its general validity, particularly with regards to resonant length cylinders and cylinders with non-circular cross-sections. Thus, to provide a firm theoretical basis for the implementation of the GRG approximation, a rigorous analysis is required to demonstrate GRG validity for arbitrary values of cylinder electrical length, kl, in addition to arbitrary cross-sections. Beginning with a general scattering formulation, it is shown that the solution to the integral equation converges to the GRG approximation as the cylinder electrical radius converges to zero, for any arbitrary value of kl. In addition, the proof is independent of cylinder cross-section shape, thus demonstrating the validity of GRG for cylinders with non-circular cross-sections. Finally, the error associated with the approximation is examined for all values of kl by developing a moment method solution for thin dielectric cylinders.
Afterslip, Tremor, and the Denali Fault Earthquake

We tested the hypothesis that afterslip should be accompanied by tremor using observations of seismic and aseismic deformation surrounding the 2002 M 7.9 Denali fault, Alaska, earthquake (DFE). Afterslip happens more frequently than spontaneous slow slip and has been observed in a wider range of tectonic environments, and thus the existence or absence of tremor accompanying afterslip may provide new clues about tremor generation. We also searched for precursory tremor, as a proxy for posited accelerating slip leading to rupture. Our search yielded no tremor during the five days prior to the DFE or in several intervals in the three months after. This negative result and an array of other observations all may be explained by rupture penetrating below the presumed locked zone into the frictional transition zone. While not unique, such an explanation corroborates previous models of megathrust and transform earthquake ruptures that extend well into the transition zone.
Hamiltonian Structure and Dynamics of a Neutrally Buoyant Rigid Sphere Interacting with Thin Vortex Rings

In a previous paper, we presented a (noncanonical) Hamiltonian model for the dynamic interaction of a neutrally buoyant rigid body of arbitrary smooth shape with N closed vortex filaments of arbitrary smooth shape, modeled as curves, in an infinite ideal fluid in $$\mathbb{R}^3$$ . The setting of that paper was quite general, and the model abstract enough to make explicit conclusions regarding the dynamic behavior of such systems difficult to draw. In the present paper, we examine a restricted class of such systems for which the governing equations can be realized concretely and the dynamics examined computationally. We focus, in particular, on the case in which the body is a smooth sphere. The equations of motion and Hamiltonian structure of this dynamic system, which follow from the general model, are presented. Following this, we impose the constraint of axisymmetry on the entire system and look at the case in which the rings are all circles perpendicular to a common axis of symmetry passing through the center of the sphere. This axisymmetric model, in our idealized framework, is governed by ordinary differential equations and is, relatively speaking, easily integrated numerically. Finally, we present some plots of dynamic orbits of the axisymmetric system.
Wakefield excitation in multimode structures by a train of electron bunches

We discuss wakefield excitation and propagation in dielectric structures, particularly concentrating on the case of multiple drive beam excitation in multimoded structures. We emphasize calculations of the energy loss of the drive beam train, the amplitude of the wakefield, and the relationship between power flow and stored energy in the dielectric wakefield device. We show that for a collinear multimode structure the amplitude of the wakefield generated by a bunch train is less than or equal to the wakefield generated by a single bunch of the same total charge. Furthermore, the transformer ratio R is shown to be always less than 2, even in the multiple drive beam case. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
School Reform, Chicago Style Educational Innovation in a Changing Urban Context, 1976-1991

In 1988, the Chicago Public Schools embarked on a bold experiment to transfer power from the central administration to elected councils in charge of each of the system's 542 schools. Tracing the demographic, economic, social, and, above all, political context of this reform effort, this article argues that several key problems have yet to be worked out. First, the reform process was dominated by Whites and took place during the political upheaval that followed Mayor Harold Washington's death. Thus many African-Americans remain skeptical about the initiative. Second, educational professionals did not play a major role in designing the reforms and many still do not feel a sense of "ownership" of them. Finally, conflicts between the central administration and the local councils remain unresolved.
The gastrocolic response: evidence for a neural mechanism.

Abstract The aim of this study is to determine the effect of anticholinergic therapy on the gastrocolonic response to a standard meal or its major constituent fat. A rapid increase in rectosigmoidal spike activity occurs after ingesting the standard meal or the fat meal (P
Research on Rocks

Highest granite hill in Penobscot Bay—North and south terraces on west side of a valley—A singular ridge forming the east side of a dell, 475 yards long, cut out of the solid granite—Evidence that 10,000 t of rock have been removed from the western rim of the dell, towards its northern point—A perpendicular wall of granite facing the south, 24 ft east and west and 20 ft above the rubbish—Tremendous force necessary to disrupt this wall—Largest boulder in town—A large wedge shaped boulder—Polishing and scratching of south side of hills—View from the top of a high hill—Evident enormous denudation within sight—Surface of granite broken up into sheets or “platforms”; how it was probably done—Lunoid furrows, their utility and how made—Some granite boulders foreign to the place or time, where they rest.
A high power medium-voltage dc amplifier system

In this paper the concept of a medium-voltage dc amplifier system is proposed. The dc amplifier system must provide a medium-voltage dc bus with the possibility of superposing a high bandwidth time-varying signal and should be capable of producing voltage excursions at a high slew-rate. This is intended to facilitate the development of new technologies, i.e. new high power non-linear loads based on power electronics, in all electric ships as part of the newly proposed MVDC ship power system. This paper sets forth the set of parameters and specifications of the medium-voltage dc amplifier system and proposes a specific circuit topology to achieve the required characteristics. Simulation results verify the feasibility and demonstrate highly dynamic performance of the proposed system configuration.
A software approach to avoiding spatial cache collisions in parallel processor systems

In parallel processor systems, the performance of individual processors is a key factor in overall performance. Processor performance is strongly affected by the behavior of cache memory in that high hit rates are essential for high performance. Hit rates are lowered when collisions on placing lines in the cache force a cache line to be replaced before it has been used to best effect. Spatial cache collisions occur if data structures and data access patterns are misaligned. We describe a mathematical scheme to improve alignment and enhance performance in applications which have moderate-to-large numbers of arrays, where various dimensionalities are involved in localized computation and array access patterns are sequential. These properties are common in many computational modeling applications. Furthermore, the scheme provides a single solution when an application is targeted to run on various numbers of processors in power-of-two sizes. The applicability of the proposed scheme is demonstrated on testbed code for an air quality modeling problem.
One-step image reconstruction from incomplete data in computer tomography

The authors develop a projection operator that simultaneously projects onto the set of all functions satisfying raysum constraints in parallel-beam CT. The projector can be directly extended to the fan-beam case through the process of rebinning. The projector generates a solution that is closest to the initial estimate among all the functions that are consistent with the available raysum data. It realizes the ART (algebraic reconstruction technique) in one step. The projector furnishes the one-step projection reconstruction (OSPR) for any arbitrary configurations of missing data. Because the projection is one-step, there can be a significant reduction in the number of online computations and memory requirements, especially when the missing data exhibit some pattern within a view or between views. >
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Career Factors Inventory on a Community College Sample

A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using AMOS 4.0 to validate the 21- item Career Factors Inventory on a community college student sample. The multidimensional inventory assesses types and levels of career indecision antecedents. The sample consisted of 512 ethnically diverse freshmen students; 46% were men and 54% were women. Participants ranged in age from 16 to 50 (M= 19.3, SD= 3.43). Goodness-of-fit statistics revealed that a minor revision of the four-factor structure proposed by Chartrand and Robbins fit the data, whereas the original model did not. The revision entailed dropping one item while retaining the four factors. Item loadings ranged from .44 to .89; factor intercorrelations ranged from .20 to .80. The internal consistency for the subscales ranged from .77 to .86 and .87 for the total inventory.
Imaging Inflammation in Cerebrovascular Disease

Imaging inflammation in large intracranial artery pathology may play an important role in the diagnosis of and risk stratification for a variety of cerebrovascular diseases. Looking beyond the lumen has already generated widespread excitement in the stroke community, and the potential to unveil molecular processes in the vessel wall is a natural evolution to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases, such as ICAD and brain aneurysms.
RegPrecise: a database of curated genomic inferences of transcriptional regulatory interactions in prokaryotes

The RegPrecise database (http://regprecise.lbl.gov) was developed for capturing, visualization and analysis of predicted transcription factor regulons in prokaryotes that were reconstructed and manually curated by utilizing the comparative genomic approach. A significant number of high-quality inferences of transcriptional regulatory interactions have been already accumulated for diverse taxonomic groups of bacteria. The reconstructed regulons include transcription factors, their cognate DNA motifs and regulated genes/operons linked to the candidate transcription factor binding sites. The RegPrecise allows for browsing the regulon collections for: (i) conservation of DNA binding sites and regulated genes for a particular regulon across diverse taxonomic lineages; (ii) sets of regulons for a family of transcription factors; (iii) repertoire of regulons in a particular taxonomic group of species; (iv) regulons associated with a metabolic pathway or a biological process in various genomes. The initial release of the database includes approximately 11,500 candidate binding sites for approximately 400 orthologous groups of transcription factors from over 350 prokaryotic genomes. Majority of these data are represented by genome-wide regulon reconstructions in Shewanella and Streptococcus genera and a large-scale prediction of regulons for the LacI family of transcription factors. Another section in the database represents the results of accurate regulon propagation to the closely related genomes.
Lung Sound Analysis for Continuous Evaluation of Airflow Obstruction in Asthma

We developed a system for monitoring airflow obstruction noninvasively, based on the principle that the proportion of the breath cycle occupied by wheezing (Tw/Ttot) in any one subject corresponds to the severity of airways obstruction. Lung sounds were recorded continuously from the chest wall. Fifty 250 ms sound segments were randomly chosen from five-minute periods and analyzed for the presence or absence of wheezes. The proportion with wheezes was used as an estimate of Tw/Ttot (Est Tw/Ttot). For 12 wheezy patients, there was a good correlation between the Est Tw/Ttot and the forced expiratory volume in one second (r = 0.893, p
Communication structures and paradigms for distributed conferencing applications

Communication paradigms and structures for workstation software supporting distributed conferencing applications is discussed. The communication system supports an abstraction of event clusters in which the various events generated by an application activity are bundled into one composite event. The communication and synchronization requirements for implementing the event cluster framework are identified and specified as ordering constraints on the individual events in various clusters. Two types of ordering are identified: causal ordering that is application specifiable, and total ordering that is system imposed. Two application models-multiplayer game and designer workbench-that are representative of many multiuser conferencing applications are introduced. >
Effect of Exercise on the Metabolism of 40Calcium and of 47Calcium in Man

40Calcium balance and turnover of 47radiocalcium were studied in 3 human subjects maintained under standard conditions of diet and activity in a metabolic ward, each patient serving as his own control. Moderate exercise in 3 pairs of experiments failed to produce consistent changes in calcium balance when the metabolism of 40calcium was followed on high (50 mg/kg/day) or low (3 mg/kg/day) levels of dietary calcium. Retention of intravenously injected 47calcium was induced by exercise on both diets, as evidenced by an increase in the “total exchangeable calcium pool,” a decrease both in the percentage of the dose excreted and in fecal specific activity, a decrease in the secretion of calcium into the intestine, and an increase in “bone formation rate.”
An examination of myth: a favorable cardiovascular risk-benefit analysis of high-dose thyroid for affective disorders.

Abstract Introduction High dose thyroid (HDT) is included in major treatment guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorders. Yet it is seldom used partly based on perceived cardiovascular risks. The cardiovascular risks of HDT are examined. Methods A literature search was conducted for the cardiovascular risks of HDT and for comparisons sake psychiatric medications. Case reports of atrial fibrillation (afib) associated with HDT are reported. Results While hyperthyroidism is a significant cardiovascular risk factor causing a 20% premature death rate, HDT treatment does not appear to be of significant cardiovascular risk. HDT differs from hyperthyroidism in significant ways. The sequela of hyperthyroidism are increasingly tied to autoimmune complications which are absent with HDT. Equating hyperthyroidism with HDT is incorrect. The five case reports of HDT treatment associated with afib were potentially caused by other factors. If HDT increases the risks of afib, monitoring for afib would minimizes the risk. Even in overt hyperthyroidism the risk of other arrhythmias are minimal. When compared to many psychiatric medications HDT is as safe or safer. Limitations There are no direct studies of cardiovascular risks of HDT for affective patients. High tolerance of a medication does not necessarily imply lack of risk. The five case reports were spontaneous, other cases may not have been reported. Conclusion The cardiovascular risks of HDT appear to be low. HDT is at least as safe as or safer than many psychiatric medications. It is effective and well tolerated.