cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design reference mission construction for planet finders

ABSTRACT In this paper, we present methods for constructing design reference missions (DRMs) for space-borne telescopesfor the direct detection and characterization of extra-solar planets. Unlike most existing DRMs, which presentresults based on an assumed xed rate for the occurrence of extra-solar planets, we calculate the approximatedistribution of mission results conditional on the distribution of planets. We also improve on previous modelsby incorporating optimal integration time modeling that allows for the setting of desired missed-detection andfalse-alarm probabilities, and by optimizing re-visit timing for systems with and without initial visit detections.Sample DRMs are constructed and evaluated for a telescope with an internal coronagraph, an external occulter,and a hybrid design composed of both elements.Keywords: DRM, planet-nding, occulters 1. INTRODUCTION Much attention has recently been directed to the problem of direct imaging of extra-solar planets. Multipleground-based observatories have begun planet nding programs with new extreme adaptive optics systems, andthere are several mission designs under current evaluation for space-based planet nding observatories. Muchwork has also gone into predicting the capabilities of the proposed instruments. Although the frequency ofextra-solar planets is still unknown, we can estimate the probability that a given instrument will detect a planet,given that one exists in the solar system being observed.
Adsorption and co-adsorption of ethylene and carbon monoxide on silica-supported monodisperse Pt nanoparticles: volumetric adsorption and infrared spectroscopy studies.

The adsorption of carbon monoxide and ethylene, and their sequential adsorption, was studied over a series of Pt/SBA-15 catalysts with monodisperse particle sizes ranging from 1.7 to 7.1 nm by diffuse-reflectance infrared spectroscopy and chemisorption. Gas adsorption was dependent on the Pt particle size, temperature, and sequence of gas exposure. Adsorption of CO at room temperature on Pt/SBA-15 gives rise to a spectroscopic feature assigned to the C−O stretch: ν(CO) = 2075 cm-1 (1.9 nm); 2079 cm-1 (2.9 nm); 2082 cm-1 (3.6 nm); and 2090 cm-1 (7.1 nm). The intensity of the signal decreased in a sigmoidal fashion with increasing temperature, thereby providing semiquantitative surface coverage information. Adsorption of ethylene on Pt/SBA-15 gave rise to spectroscopic features at ∼1340, ∼1420, and ∼1500 cm-1 assigned to ethylidyne, di-σ-bonded ethylene, and π-bonded ethylene, respectively. The ratio of these surface species is highly dependent on the Pt particle size. At room temperature, Pt particles sta...
A multi-scaling analysis of the spin-up problem

The response of a contained rotating fluid to a small, abrupt change in the rotation rate is analysed by multi-scaling methods. The procedure makes use of the fact that three different physical processes (inertial oscillations, spin-up response, diffusion) give rise to three different time scales. Since the flow is known to have a boundary-layer character, the variables are derived into interior and boundary-layer parts. The pertinent parameter separating the magnitudes of the amplitudes and the different time scales is the square root of the Ekman number E½, so an expansion in powers of E½ is used. The solution for a homogeneous fluid is derived first and is shown to be consistent with the solution of Green-span & Howard (1963). The results are given in two forms: one is a direct deduction of the expansion method and is valid to O(E); the other is obtained by regrouping the terms to derive a form apparently valid for indefinitely long times. When the fluid is stratified, the physical structure of the system is substantially more complicated, and so is the analysis. Exact results can be obtained for the case where the buoyancy N and the rotational Ω frequencies are the same. For the general case F = N/Ω ≠ 1, results valid for t [Gt ] 1 can be obtained (where t is measured in units of Ω−1). In both cases the exact lowest-order solution for the interior can be derived since it is independent of short time t. For the stratified fluid the elementary spin-up solution of Holton (1965) is part of the solution at O(E½). The remaining part includes the long-time behaviour towards which the system tends as diffusive processes become dominant. The formulation of the long-time problem is complete a t O(E), but parts of it emerge from the analysis at lower order, and it is necessary to treat the lower-order system to obtain a consistent formulation at O(E). In particular, it is possible to show that the thermal boundary condition, which does not affect the elementary spin-up solution, should be satisfied only by the long-time part of the problem. The complete, lowest-order response of the system includes a diffusive part which is quantitatively significant even for times of the order of one spin-up time. It is suggested here that the diffusive contribution may be responsible for parts of the discrepancy between elementary spin-up theory and recent experiments.
Physical and Functional Interaction of SMADs and p300/CBP

SMADs are transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) receptor substrates and mediators of TGF-β transcriptional responses. Here we provide evidence that the coactivators p300 and CBP interact with Smads 1 through 4. The biological relevance of this interaction is shown in vivo by overexpression of the adenovirus E1A protein and mutant forms of E1A that lack p300-binding sites. Wild-type E1A, but not the mutants, inhibits SMAD-dependent transcriptional responses to TGF-β. E1A also inhibits the intrinsic transactivating function of the Smad4 MH2 domain. In addition, overexpression of p300 enhances SMAD-dependent transactivation. Our results suggest a role for p300/CBP in SMAD-mediated transcriptional activation and provide an explanation for the observed ability of E1A to interfere with TGF-β action.
The multistage ultradrawing of atactic polystyrene by solid-state coextrusion

Abstract Atactic polystyrene (PS) films have been highly drawn by solid-state coextrusion. The highest extrusion draw ratios, > 20, ever reported for PS were achieved by a two-stage coextrusion with high-density polyethylene as the coextrudate at 130°C. Nylon 66 billets also allowed coextrusions at the PS glass transition temperature and polypropylene billets at temperatures as high as 160°C. The coextruded amorphous PS films are fibrous, display a high degree of orientation by birefringence, and show enhanced tensile properties. Most significant, all films, including the most highly drawn ones, exhibit quantitative recovery upon rapid thermal shrinkage underlining the efficiency of deformation and thus energy storage achieved by the two-stage solid-state coextrusion.
Characterization of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor GABAB(1e), a GABAB(1) splice variant encoding a truncated receptor.

We have identified a splice variant encoding only the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the γ-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptor subunit GABAB(1a). This isoform, which we have named GABAB(1e), is detected in both rats and humans. While GABAB(1e) is a minor component of the total pool of GABAB(1) transcripts detected in the central nervous system, it is the primary isoform found in all peripheral tissues examined. When expressed in a heterologous system, the truncated receptor is both secreted and membrane associated. However, GABAB(1e) lacks the ability to bind the radiolabeled antagonist [3H]CGP 54626A, activate G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels, or inhibit forskolin-induced cAMP production when it is expressed alone or together with GABAB(2). Interestingly, when co-expressed with GABAB(2), not only does the truncated receptor heterodimerize with GABAB(2), the association is of sufficient avidity to disrupt the normal GABAB(1a)/GABAB(2) association. Despite this strong interaction, GABAB(1e) fails to disrupt G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium activation by the full-length heterodimer pair of GABAB(1a)/GABAB(2).
The repair of osteochondral defects using an exogenous fibrin clot An experimental study in dogs

To evaluate the ability of an exogenous fibrin clot to hasten or optimize the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects, 4-mm diameter, full-thickness articular cartilage defects in 20 adult mongrel dogs were packed with an exogenous fibrin clot that had been prepared from each animal. The defects were created in a loaded and unloaded portion of the femoral trochlea. The healing response was then examined using routine histology at various intervals from 2 weeks to 6 months. Both the experimental (clot-filled) and control (empty) defects healed through a proliferation of fibrous connective tissue that eventually modulated into fibrocartilage. However, in the 2-, 4-, and 8-week animals, the experimental defects (both loaded and unloaded) demonstrated a more organized and advanced healing response than did the control defects. This difference was less pronounced in the 12- and 24-week animals. In all specimens, the clot-filled defects healed more uniformly than controls with less surface depression. In general, the unloaded sites were more uniform in healing than the corresponding loaded sites.
Thermodynamic studies of oxygen behavior in tantalum-based alloys

Abstract An experimental study of equilibrium thermodynamic properties of oxygen in pure tantalum and tantalum alloyed with V, Nb or Mo was made by EMF measurements on solid electrolytic cells over the temperature range of 873–1373 K (600–1100°C). The solubility of oxygen in pure tantalum in equilibrium with Ta2O5 was determined to be Cs = 12.4exp[−(16 kJ/mol)/(RT)] over the experimental temperature range. It was concluded that oxygen obeys Henry's law for concentrations up to the terminal solubility in tantalum for the temperature range 873–1373 K (600–1100°C). The oxygen activity coefficient increased with Mo content in TaMo alloys and decreased with V content in TaV alloys. The equilibrium results showed virtually no change in thermodynamic behavior of the oxygen solution by adding Nb to TaO alloys. The positive deviation of the oxygen activity coefficient in TaMo alloys is evidence of a repulsive interaction between molybdenum and oxygen atoms. The interaction energy was calculated assuming that the interaction extends to third nearest neighbors. It may, in fact, extend to fourth or higher neighboring shells of atoms.
Supplier/Customer Inventory Relationships Under Just In Time

While a fairly large body of literature dealing with just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing exists, most of it is descriptive. JIT research consists primarily of case studies, surveys, a few analytic models (primarily dealing with Kanban), and some simulations. This research builds on the existing literature to develop and test an exploratory model of JIT purchasing with an empirical field study of an actual JIT implementation. While the results basically follow hypotheses developed from the literature, some anomalies were found. The research provides both a methodology for further JIT study and an indication of the possible relative importance of JIT purchasing characteristics as they exist in a North American installation. Especially insightful is the fact that the relative importance changes depending on whether customer inventory or supplier inventory is used as the dependent variable. With customer inventory, the variables measuring delivered lot size, the size of release changes, and supplier manufacturing lead time were significant. With supplier inventory, only supplier manufacturing lot size was significant.
Modeling upper airway collapse by a finite element model with regional tissue properties

This study presents a new computational system for modeling the upper airway in rats that combines tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with tissue material properties to predict three-dimensional (3D) airway motion. The model is capable of predicting airway wall and tissue deformation under airway pressure loading up to airway collapse. The model demonstrates that oropharynx collapse pressure depends primarily on ventral wall (tongue muscle) elastic modulus and airway architecture. An iterative approach that involves substituting alternative possible tissue elastic moduli was used to improve model precision. The proposed 3D model accounts for stress-strain relationships in the complex upper airway that should present new opportunities for understanding pathogenesis of airway collapse, improving diagnosis and developing treatments.
Effects of end plates on resolution of wire chambers

Abstract Resolution may be significantly degraded near conducting end plates of wire chambers. Simple analytical methods are used to estimate the field distortion and consequent changes in drift time.
Evidence for mutual exclusion in the tryptic hydrolysis of two peptide bonds in maleylated trypsinogen.

Treatment of completely maleylated trypsinogen with trypsin resulted in a mutual exclusion of hydrolysis of the two arginyl peptide bonds wherein one half of the molecules of the modified zymogen were cleaved at the Arg55-Leu56 bond and the other half of the molecules were cleaved at the Arg105-Val106 bond and no molecules were cleaved at both arginyl bonds.
Real-time one-step incoherent level slicing of optical images

Abstract A modification of a real-time subtraction setup enables the performance of the level slicing operation of optical images. The operation is done with incoherent sources for both read-in and read-out illuminations. The enhanced (sliced) intensity level is displayed on top of a uniform background level.
Advanced distribution planning tools for high penetration PV deployment

Solar PV interconnection analyses have historically been addressed by analyzing one or two PV system interconnection requests at a time. As higher penetration levels and numbers of PV systems are realized, the ability to efficiently model and analyze large numbers of PV system deployments and scenarios becomes increasingly important yet difficult. Time and spatial impacts along with uncertainty in the rate of PV adoption must also be considered. Advanced distribution analysis tools are necessary to take into account such factors, and also allow for the quick screening of interconnection requests. This paper discusses some of these issues along with the examples illustrated using an open source distribution analysis program.
Doing more with mini

The Campus Information Technology and Educational Services group is the central IT organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The CITES Help Desk provides IT support for faculty/staff, students, and retirees. The number of Apple-related support inquiries is rising. Our support methods have evolved, starting from a pair of Macs in the back of the room. The next step was to provide a Mac alongside each Windows machine. Multiple machines per person do not scale well and introduce physical complexities to the workspace. With the release of Intel-based Macs, a new opportunity was realized. Our goal is to provide a single machine at each workstation that will give our consultants the ability to address Windows and Macintosh support. Join us as we explore operating system virtualization with VMware Fusion and Parallels, Active Directory integration, file storage, and system deployment - on an ever-shrinking budget.
Comparing the Demographics of Students Reported for Academic Dishonesty to Those of the Overall Student Population

Only a small proportion of academically dishonest students ever receive an official report of academic dishonesty, and the sociology of deviance literature is ripe with studies illustrating disproportionalities in detecting, policing, and prosecuting crimes. This study addresses the degree to which disproportionalities exist in the application of relatively few official sanctions levied upon students for academic dishonesty. I compared the demographics of those who have been reported for cheating with those of an entire undergraduate student body and of self-reported cheaters in the literature. I found that international students are much more likely than domestic students to get reported.
Design, Construction, and Early Operating Experience of the SLAC Beam Switchyard and Experimental Areas

This paper gives a description of the overall design and construction of the SLAC beam switchyard and experimental areas. The electron optics and transport components of the switchyard are described. The high-intensity beams transported by this system present special problems requiring design for radiation resistance, remote-precise location, quick removal, and resistance to corrosive environments.(13) These problems and their solution are discussed. The SLAC research yard and its present experimental facilities are discussed. Finally, a design evaluation and summary of early tests and operation experience in this area are presented.
Modeling of a quantum well infrared detector with a dark current discriminator

Abstract A model is developed to provide estimates of the performance of quantum well intersubband infrared photodetectors. By introducing an energy filter to reduce the dark current, the quantum well device performance is improved. The amount of reduction in dark current depends upon the height of the energy filter barrier which can be varied by bias voltage. The energy distributions of the dark current and photocurrent electrons are discussed. Calculated results are presented for detectors with different quantum well widths, including the cases of bound-to-bound and bound-to-continuum transitions. The reduction in dark current results in a higher detectivity, and a substantial improvement over traditional designs can be obtained for some well widths.
Abstract A136: Proteome analysis reveals candidate genes regulated by BLID, a novel drug-inducible apoptotic target, in breast cancer cells.

BLID, BH-3 Like motif containing Inducer of cell Death, is a strong prognostic factor in invasive breast cancer (1). Frequent lack of BLID in breast cancer has been associated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), African American ethnicity and younger women. Significant correlations exist between BLID negative breast cancer and declines in overall survival, local relapse-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival. In dose response and time course studies, BLID expression was found to be induced by chemotherapeutic drugs including doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In addition, exogenous expression of BLID cDNA nanocomplex led to significant increase in chemosensitivity in SKBr3 (ER-ve/PR-ve) and MDA-MB231 (TNBC) breast cancer cell lines. Here we have investigated the effects of BLID knockdown on protein expression profiles in representative hormone responsive (MCF-7) and TNBC breast cancer cells (MDA-MB231) with a goal to identify a core translational component signifying BLID activity in breast cancer cells. BLID shRNA lentiviral particles were generated using pLKO.1-TRC containing BLID shRNA clone 47 according to the supplier9s manual (Sigma-Aldrich). Breast cancer cells were stably transfected with BLID shRNA or scrambled shRNA. The pooled stable clones were tested for BLID expression by western blot analysis. Significant knockdown of BLID protein was achieved in breast cancer cells transfected with BLID shRNA (% inhibition of BLID expression vs. scrambled shRNA: MCF-7, 69%; MDA-MB231, 63%). The BLID proteome analysis was performed using antibody microarrays as we reported earlier (2). We have observed distinct and overlapping BLID-centric protein profiles in MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells. Among the top-ranked genes, BLID knockdown correlated with increased expression of PI3-kinase catalytic subunit α and DEK oncogene in MCF-7 cells, and increased expression of myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (MCL-1) in MDA-MB231 cells. Remarkably, BLID depletion correlated with decreased expression of tumor protein p73 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA Type Iα) in both cell lines. Thus, we have identified a working platform of genes signifying BLID expression in breast cancer cells. Validation of the top-ranked genes in various models of breast cancer is ongoing and data will be presented. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):A136. Citation Format: Sivaramakrishna Yadavalli, Ofer Eidelman, Meera Srivastava, Usha N. Kasid. Proteome analysis reveals candidate genes regulated by BLID, a novel drug-inducible apoptotic target, in breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A136.
Probabilistic inference in multiply connected belief networks using loop cutsets

The method of conditioning permits probabilistic inference in multiply connected belief networks using an algorithm by Pearl. This method uses a select set of nodes, the loop cutset, to render the multiply connected network singly connected. We discuss the function of the nodes of the loop cutset and a condition that must be met by the nodes of the loop cutset. We show that the problem of finding a loop cutset that optimizes probabilistic inference using the method of conditioning is NP-hard. We present a heuristic algorithm for finding a small loop cutset in polynomial time, and we analyze the performance of this heuristic algorithm empirically.
Resistive switching devices: Switching power and operation control

Resistive switching devices based on metal oxides are promising candidates for non-volatile memories and programmable logic applications [1–4]. They can be repeatedly switched between a high-resistance state (OFF) and a low-resistance state (ON) by electrical forces, and both states are nonvolatile. Their simple two-terminal structure and highly scalable size may enable cross-bar architectures to achieve extremely high device density (Fig. 1). They are usually made in a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure and can be integrated in CMOS (Fig. 2). Various metal oxides have demonstrated resistive switching characteristics; however, the exact switching mechanisms are still not clear. This paper analyzes switching power and operation control of these devices, which helps to explain the control of ON-state resistance and reset current by set current limit.
Completion of a parasexual cycle in Candida albicans by induced chromosome loss in tetraploid strains

The human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans has traditionally been classified as a diploid, asexual organism. However, mating-competent forms of the organism were recently described that produced tetraploid mating products. In principle, the C.albicans life cycle could be completed via a sexual process, via a parasexual mechanism, or by both mechanisms. Here we describe conditions in which growth of a tetraploid strain of C.albicans on Saccharomyces cerevisiae 'pre-sporulation' medium induced efficient, random chromosome loss in the tetraploid. The products of chromosome loss were often strains that were diploid, or very close to diploid, in DNA content. If they inherited the appropriate MTL (mating-type like) loci, these diploid products were themselves mating competent. Thus, an efficient parasexual cycle can be performed in C.albicans, one that leads to the reassortment of genetic material in this organism. We show that this parasexual cycle-consisting of mating followed by chromosome loss-can be used in the laboratory for simple genetic manipulations in C.albicans.
Comparative analysis of orthologous eukaryotic mRNAs: potential hidden functional signals

Sequencing of multiple, nearly complete eukaryotic genomes creates opportunities for detecting previously unnoticed, subtle functional signals in non-coding regions. A genome-wide comparative analysis of orthologous sets of mammalian and yeast mRNAs revealed distinct patterns of evolutionary conservation at the boundaries of the untranslated regions (UTRs) and the coding region (CDS). Elevated sequence conservation was detected in approximately 30 nt regions around the start codon. There seems to be a complementary relationship between sequence conservation in the approximately 30 nt regions of the 5'-UTR immediately upstream of the start codon and that in the synonymous positions of the 5'-terminal 30 nt of the CDS: in mammalian mRNAs, the 5'-UTR shows a greater conservation than the CDS, whereas the opposite trend holds for yeast mRNAs. Unexpectedly, a approximately 30 nt region downstream of the stop codon shows a substantially lower level of sequence conservation than the downstream portions of the 3'-UTRs. However, the sequence in this poorly conserved 30 nt portion of the 3'-UTR is non-random in that it has a higher GC content than the rest of the UTR. It is hypothesized that the elevated sequence conservation in the region immediately upstream of the start codon is related to the requirement for initiation factor binding during pre-initiation ribosomal scanning. In contrast, the poorly conserved region downstream of the stop codon could be involved in the post- termination scanning and dissociation of the ribosomes from the mRNA, which requires only the mRNA-ribosome interaction. Additionally, it was found that the choice of the stop codon in mammals, but not in yeasts, and the context in the immediate vicinity of the stop codons in both mammals and yeasts are subject to strong selection. Thus, genome-wide analysis of orthologous gene sets allows detection of previously unrecognized patterns of sequence conservation, which are likely to reflect hidden functional signals, such as ribosomal filters that could regulate translation by modulating the interaction between the mRNA and ribosomes.
The Process of Janusian Thinking in Creativity

"Janusian thinking"—the capacity to conceive and utilize two or more opposite or contradictory ideas, concepts, or images simultaneously—is discussed in relation to its role in the creative process in art, literature, architecture, music, science, and mathematics. I feel that understanding the psychological factors in creativity should be of importance in the theory and everyday practice of the art of psychotherapy.
Alterations In Muscle Coordination Following Robot-Assisted Gait Training In Hemiparetic Stroke: A Case Series (P3.047)

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify specific changes in lower extremity muscle coordination during a regimen of Robot-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT). BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted devices are becoming a popular alternative to manual facilitation in stroke rehabilitation. These devices have the potential to reduce therapist burden and treatment costs, however their effectiveness in terms of functional recovery remains in question. DESIGN/METHODS: Four individuals with hemiparesis due to stroke participated. All subjects had impaired gait and walked using a 4-point cane. Each subject participated in 18 one-hour sessions of RAGT. Muscle coordination was evaluated using surface electromyography (SEMG) recorded from a set of eight lower extremity muscles during the 10m Walk Test. SEMG was recorded from the following muscles bilaterally: the long head of biceps femoris, vastus lateralis, lateral gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. A composite Symmetry Index was determined from the muscle activation signals. SEMG signals were deconstructed into an optimized 4-phase model of rhythmic locomotor patterns. The coefficient of determination, R2, was used to interpret the proportion of variability that could be explained by the model. RESULTS: Following RAGT, every subject improved in terms of the 10m Walk Test (40 to 76% increase in walking speed) and Timed Up-and-Go test (22 to 32% decrease in time to complete task). Symmetry Indices also improved. Variations from rhythmic, coordinated muscle activation patterns were reduced following RAGT (R2 = 0.43 to 0.54 at baseline; R2 = 0.56 to 0.68 post-RAGT). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that RAGT may be associated with improvements in muscle coordination. Required next is a randomized control trial to investigate the efficacy of RAGT in improving rhythmic muscle coordination patterns in hemiparetic stroke. This evaluation method is a novel way to assess improvement in gait that goes beyond purely clinical evaluation. Study Supported by: HealthSouth Corporation Disclosure: Dr. Thrasher has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fisher has nothing to disclose.
The Singularity of Aura and the Artistry of Translation: Martin Luther's Bible as Artwork

The present essay argues that Martin Luther's Bible translation is an important moment in the cultural history of aura as conceptualized by Walter Benjamin. Luther's vernacular New Testament, along with the larger translation project of which it was the auspicious beginning, is one of the most important and influential of translations, and in his “Sendbrief vom Dolmetschen” (1530), Luther provides crucial information about how he approached his translation that is important for an appreciation of its distinctive aura. We shall see that, in the “Sendbrief,” Luther conceives of his Bible as a work of art, and of his translating activity in terms of a very individual kind of artistry. This view of Luther's Bible within the context of Benjamin's conception of aura contributes to the understanding both of the cultural importance of the early modern Bible translation and also of the influential early 20 th century essay on the artwork in the age of its technical reproducibility. (WH)
Using Software Agents to Supplement Tests Conducted by Human Subjects

The objective of this paper is to test whether or not software agents can match the observed behavior of human subjects in laboratory tests of markets. For this purpose, one set of tests uses four software agents and two human subjects to represent six suppliers in three different market situations: no forward contracts, fixed price forward contracts, and renewable forward contracts. An identical set of tests is conducted using software agents to represent all of the suppliers. The results show that software agents were able to replicate the behavior of human subjects effectively in the experiments, and have the potential to be used effectively in testing electricity auctions, doing additional sensitivity tests, and supplementing results obtained using human subjects.
Nonchemotactic mutants of Escherichia coli.

We have isolated 40 mutants of Escherichia coli which are nonchemotactic as judged by their failure to swarm on semisolid tryptone plates or to make bands in capillary tubes containing tryptone broth. All the mutants have normal flagella, a fact shown by their shape and reaction with antiflagella serum. All are fully motile under the microscope and all are sensitive to the phage chi. Unlike its parent, one of the mutants, studied in greater detail, failed to show chemotaxis toward oxygen, glucose, serine, threonine, or aspartic acid. The failure to exhibit chemotaxis does not result from a failure to use the chemicals. The swimming of this mutant was shown to be random. The growth rate was normal under several conditions, and the growth requirements were unchanged. Images
Incidence of Ketosis, other Diseases, and Some Postpartum Reproductive Ailments in Normal and Triiodothyronine-Treated Cows

Summary The incidence of ketosis in 1,032 cows calving between November and December was 19%. Triiodothyronine (T 3 ) implants increased either the severity or incidence of ketosis symptoms. This might have been due to increasing the relative caloric deficiency. More than two-thirds of the cows displaying clinical symptoms of ketosis did not have other diseases or elevated temperatures. Uterine involution was more rapid in ketotic cows and in T 3 -implanted cows than in controls. Regression of pregnancy corpora lutea was more rapid in the T 3 -implanted cows. The calving interval was seven days shorter for thyronine-implanted cows. Milk production was 11% greater for ketotic cows than for nonketotic cows, with thyronine causing a slight depression in the second month of lactation.
Electoral Competition and Democratic Responsiveness: A Defense of the Marginality Hypothesis

Does vigorous electoral competition help to convert citizens' preferences into government action? No, concludes a series of theoretical and empirical studies conducted over the last 35 years. If these findings are correct, efforts to enhance competition such as depoliticizing the redistricting process and achieving greater equity in campaign spending, while perhaps beneficial in other respects, will not improve government responsiveness. However, these studies are limited by a shortage of data, by biased measures of district competitiveness, and by their conceptualization of responsiveness. Using both cross-sectional and fixed-effects modeling frameworks, this study finds that in recent years elected officials who represent more competitive districts are indeed more responsive to their constituents' preferences.
Impaired glucose transport in skeletal muscle but normal GLUT-4 tissue distribution in glucose-infused rats

This study was undertaken to determine if glucose toxicity in normal rats caused decreased whole body insulin-stimulated glucose disposal and in vivo impaired muscle glucose transport and, if so, w...
Bio-Renewable Asphalt Modifiers and Asphalt Substitutes

The global asphalt market is to reach 118.4 million metric tons by 2015, according to a January 2011 report by Global Industry Analysis, Inc. The asphalt paving industry accounts for the largest end-use market segment of asphalt. With increasing growth in the developing markets of China, India, Brazil, and Eastern Europe, asphalt will be needed to construct their roadway infrastructure well into the next decade. The increased demand for asphalt, along with the need for improved asphalt materials/pavement performance, creates the opportunity for bio-renewable asphalt modifiers and/or asphalt substitutes.
Divine callings: religious sensemaking in the organizational founding process

Organizational scholars have not considered the potential power of religion as a sensemaking tool. Religion scholars have wondered whether religious sensemaking is simply a post hoc justification for behavior, or whether it can shape future actions. In this article, we present mixed methods research that gets at the intersection of these issues. In interviews with founders of religious nonprofit organizations, we find that many frame their founding experiences in religious terms, such as believing that God gave them the idea for their organization or attributing certain founding events to divine intervention. We then examine data from a survey of young religious nonprofits and find that reports of personal religious experiences are more common among primary founders compared to other leaders. We also find that those founders reporting certain religious experiences work more hours in the organization, suggesting that sensemaking strategies could have consequences for individuals’ behavior.
Abstract 16685: Depletion of Circulating CD34+/KDR+ Cells in Type 2 Diabetes is Associated With Glycemic Control

Background and Hypothesis: Circulating levels of endothelial progenitor cells have been found to be predictive of cardiovascular events and mortality. Although the levels of these cells reflect overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, studies assessing their association with major CVD factors - hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes have yielded inconsistent results and the mechanisms contributing to EPC depletion remain unknown. We hypothesized that EPC depletion occurring in diabetes is mediated in part by hyperglycemia or insulin resistance. Methods: Circulating levels of progenitor cells were measured by flow cytometry in 108 diabetic or non-diabetic subjects recruited from the University of Louisville Health System. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) was measured by the EndoPAT. Demographic information was acquired and blood, plasma and urine were used for biochemical analyses. Subjects were divided into high and low EPC count groups using the median split. Data was analyzed using a Chi-square test, a two-sample rank sum test, and univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Results: Levels of CD34+/KDR+/CD14−/CD16− cells (EPCs) were associated with the diagnosis of diabetes (p=0.04), but not with other demographic covariates, hypertension or dyslipidemia. Levels of CD34+, AC133+ and CD34+/AC133+/CD45+ cells also displayed significant association with diabetes (p=0.038, 0.014 and 0.038 respectively). RHI was strongly associated with diabetes (p<0.0001) hypertension and dyslipidemia, however, no significant associations were observed between RHI and EPCs. EPC levels were inversely associated with HbA1C (p=0.047) and fasting blood glucose, but not with insulin levels or the HOMA-IR score. In the complete model, the association between EPCs and diabetes was strengthened by the inclusion of RHI, indicating more robust EPC depletion in those with endothelial dysfunction. Conclusion: Circulating EPC levels are a robust index of long-term glycemic control and are associated with hyperglycemia rather than contemporaneous insulin levels or endothelial dysfunction. These findings may help in prognosis and early identification of CVD risk in patients with diabetes, independent of other risk estimates.
Testing spectrum sensing networks by UAV

We consider here the use of hovering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to test spectrum sensing capabilities of Citizen's Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) systems at 3.5 GHz. Aircraft transmit synthesized LTE or pulsed radar modulation to excite spectrum sensing nodes on the ground. This kind of test could be useful either to validate a system during development or to check a deployed system in the field. Technical challenges that will need to be addressed include rotor blade effects on signal fidelity, waveform parameter selection, and understanding of positioning estimation and control.
On Shu 書 (Documents) and the origin of the Shang shu 尚書 (Ancient Documents) in light of recently discovered bamboo slip manuscripts

In light of the recent discovery of Warring States period bamboo slips, now in the collection of Tsinghua University, inscribed with texts described as shu, “documents” or “similar to shu”, this article explores the question of “what were shu?” It suggests that shu can be understood as a literary form apart from the history of the Confucian classic, the Shang shu 尚書 (Ancient Documents) or Shu jing 書經 (Book of Documents) and the Yi Zhou shu 逸周書. Formal characteristics include: shu were – or pretended to be – contemporaneous records; and shu include formal speeches by model kings and ministers from ancient times. Many shu include the expression wang ruo yue 王若曰, which is also found in bronze inscriptions, where it indicates that a royal speech was read aloud by an official. Thus, the literary form originated with the practice of composing speeches in writing before they were read out in formal ceremonies, with a bamboo slip copy presented to the officials addressed. Later shu were fictional compositions, written in the style of these ancient documents.
RNA Sequencing in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious psychiatric disorder that affects 1% of general population and places a heavy burden worldwide. The underlying genetic mechanism of SCZ remains unknown, but studies indicate that the disease is associated with a global gene expression disturbance across many genes. Next-generation sequencing, particularly of RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), provides a powerful genome-scale technology to investigate the pathological processes of SCZ. RNA-Seq has been used to analyze the gene expressions and identify the novel splice isoforms and rare transcripts associated with SCZ. This paper provides an overview on the genetics of SCZ, the advantages of RNA-Seq for transcriptome analysis, the accomplishments of RNA-Seq in SCZ cohorts, and the applications of induced pluripotent stem cells and RNA-Seq in SCZ research.
Eggshell Quality and Hatchability in Broiler Breeder Eggs

Abstract Relationships among selected variables of eggshell quality in broiler breeder eggs were determined over complete production cycles in three experiments. Variables measured were egg weight (EW), egg specific gravity (SG), eggshell weight (SW), water vapor conductance (G), and regional pore concentration (PC) and eggshell thickness (ST) (Experiments 1 and 2). Hatchability was examined in one experiment (Experiment 3). Eggshell weight, ST, and SG were all positively correlated with each other and PC in three regions of the shell (small end, equator, and large end) were highly positively correlated among themselves in Experiments 1 and 2. Pore concentration showed negative correlations with SG and ST but was positively correlated with G and G per 100 g EW (G/EW) in Experiments 1 and 2. Egg weight and shell weight increased with bird age in Experiments 2 and 3; however, negative trends over time were found for SG, PC, G, and G/EW in Experiment 2 and for G/EW and hatchability in Experiment 3. Quadratic regressions were similar for G/EW, hatch of fertile eggs, and hatch of total eggs in Experiment 3. Percentage hatch of fertile eggs peaked at Week 47 and was statistically lower at Weeks 55, 59, and 63, and percentage hatch of total eggs set was statistically lower at Weeks 55 and 59 than at Weeks 35, 39, and 47. It was concluded that eggshell quality changes with bird age. Conductance/egg weight appeared to be a useful indicator of hatchability, and the contribution of reduced G/EW to decreased hatchability was most evident late in production when eggshell surface area to egg volume ratio was lowest.
Mobility in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are poised to significantly enhance a number of missions in the military, civilian, and industrial arenas. Recently, there has been a significant interest in the design of algorithms for exploiting sensor mobility. The motivation of these designs is mainly to enhance coverage in the deployment field. Broadly speaking, there are three standard notions of coverage in sensor networks: blanket, barrier, and event coverage. Blanket coverage refers to the case where every point in the sensor network needs to be covered. Barrier coverage refers to the case where every intrusion path in the sensor network needs to be covered. Event coverage refers to the case where events in the sensor network need to be covered as and when they occur. In this chapter, we present a survey of mobility algorithms for enhancing blanket, barrier, and event coverage in wireless sensor networks. The key metrics emphasized for evaluation of these algorithms are: quality of coverage, movement distance minimization, communication overhead, and energy constraints. We also highlight open issues in mobility in wireless sensor networks, including some discussions on uncontrolled sensor mobility.
Feature Extraction and Machine Learning on Symbolic Music using the music21 Toolkit.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence have great potential to help researchers understand and classify musical scores and other symbolic musical data, but the difficulty of preparing and extracting characteristics (features) from symbolic scores has hindered musicologists (and others who examine scores closely) from using these techniques. This paper describes the “feature” capabilities of music21, a general-purpose, open source toolkit for analyzing, searching, and transforming symbolic music data. The features module of music21 integrates standard featureextraction tools provided by other toolkits, includes new tools, and also allows researchers to write new and powerful extraction methods quickly. These developments take advantage of the system’s built-in capacities to parse diverse data formats and to manipulate complex scores (e.g., by reducing them to a series of chords, determining key or metrical strength automatically, or integrating audio data). This paper’s demonstrations combine music21 with the data mining toolkits Orange and Weka to distinguish works by Monteverdi from works by Bach and German folk music from Chinese folk music.
Ethylene and cytokinin signalling in plants: the role of two-component systems

Two-component systems involve the use of histidine kinases and response-regulator proteins, and allow for the perception of a variety of signals. ETR1 is an ethylene receptor in plants, and contains domains with sequence similarity to histidine kinases and response regulators. Ethylene signalling involves a phosphorylation cascade, employing both histidine kinases and serine/threonine kinases. CKI1 is involved in the cytokinin signalling pathway in plants, and contains domains with sequence similarity to histidine kinases and response regulators. The identification of two-component systems in eukaryotes indicates that this is a general signalling mechanism, not limited solely to prokaryotes.
Alternative splicing, muscle contraction and intraspecific variation: Associations between troponin T transcripts, Ca2+ sensitivity and the force and power output of dragonfly flight muscles during oscillatory contraction

SUMMARY The flight muscles of Libellula pulchella dragonflies contain a mixture of six alternatively spliced transcripts of a single troponin T (TnT) gene. Here, we examine how intraspecific variation in the relative abundance of different TnT transcripts affects the Ca 2+ sensitivity of skinned muscle fibers and the performance of intact muscles during work-loop contraction regimes that approximate in vivo conditions during flight. The relative abundance of one TnT transcript, or the pooled relative abundance of two TnT transcripts, showed a positive correlation with a 10-fold range of variation in Ca 2+ sensitivity of skinned fibers ( r 2 =0.77, P r 2 =0.74, P r 2 =0.54; P r 2 =0.48, P =0.0005) of intact muscle. Using these results to reanalyze previously published data for wing kinematics during free flight, we show that the relative abundances of these particular transcripts are also positively correlated with wingbeat frequency and amplitude. TnT variation alone may be responsible for these effects, or TnT variation may be a marker for changes in a suite of co-regulated molecules. Dragonflies from two ponds separated by 16 km differed significantly in both TnT transcript composition and muscle contractile performance, and within each population there are two distinct morphs that showed different maturational trajectories of TnT transcript composition and muscle contractility. Thus, there is broad intraspecific variability and a high degree of population structure for contractile performance phenotypes, TnT ribotypes and ontogenetic patterns involving these traits that affect locomotor performance.
A California Sea Lion ( Zalophus Californianus ) is Capable of Forming Equivalence Relations

If a nonhuman animal matches the silhouette “crab” (A) to that of a “tulip” (B) and is further taught to match “tulip” (B) to the silhouette “radio” (C), will it immediately match “radio” (C) to “crab” (A)? To date formation of an equivalence relation of this type has not been demonstrated in animals. In our study, designed to give a sea lion match-to-sample experience with examples of sample and comparison stimuli switching roles, a 7-year-old female (Rio) was trained and tested with 30 potential classes, each consisting of 3 different shapes. Twelve of the 30 classes were used for training relational properties of symmetry and transitivity, and 18 classes were reserved for a final equivalence test. Following an initial failure to do symmetry on the first trial of novel relations (B→A: 8/12), Rio did symmetry (C→B: 11/12) and transitivity. (A→C: 11/12) before mastering equivalence on the first trial of 18 novel relations (C→A: 16/18). Results suggest that equivalence concepts are not mediated by language, but may be a prerequisite for linguistic competence.