cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization and Control of Hysteretic Dynamics Using Online Reinforcement Learning

Hysteretic dynamical systems are challenging to control due to their hard nonlinearity and difficulty in modeling. One type of system with hysteretic dynamics that is gaining use in aerospace systems is the shape-memory alloy-based actuator. These actuators provide aircraft and spacecraft systems with the ability to achieve component-level or vehicle-level geometry or shape changes. Characterization of the material dynamics and properties of these actuators is usually accomplished with empirical testing of physical specimens, in which the hysteresis dynamics are often abstracted to very simplified models or ignored entirely. Machine learning techniques have the potential to learn hysteretic dynamics, but they routinely encounter difficulties that make them unsuitable. This paper proposes and develops a reinforcement learning-based approach that directly learns an input–output mapping characterization of hysteretic dynamics, which is then used as a control policy. A hyperbolic tangent-based model is used t...
A Simulation Study of a Reconfigurable Database

Abstract The effect of supervisory control on a redundant database unit representing a command and control (C2) system that supports air operations is investigated through simulation. Several supervisory control policies are considered. They authorize restoration and/or routing upon the failure of a server in the system. The performance of the modeled system under these policies is evaluated based on the measures of system mean-time-to-failure (MTTF), steady-state availability, expected response time, and overhead. The system is modeled as a discrete event system using a simulation tool. In addition, a system update process is implemented to ensure the currency of the information contained in the database unit.
Diruthenium(II,III) tetracarboxylates catalyzed H2O2 oxygenation of organic sulfides

Abstract Diruthenium(II,III) tetracarboxylates, Ru2(OAc)4Cl (A), Ru2(esp)2Cl (B, esp = tetramethyl-1,3-benzenedipropionate) and Ru2(3-HB)4Cl (C, 3-HB = 3-hydroxybenzoate) were investigated for activating hydrogen peroxide in organic sulfide oxygenation. The speciation of the substrate and potential products, sulfoxide and sulfone, were investigated for each catalyst. With methyl phenyl sulfide as the substrate, A simultaneously produces sulfoxide and sulfone, B yields the highest turnover with complete conversion to sulfoxide at 6 min before sulfone appears, and C facilitates complete conversion to sulfoxide in 20 min but little subsequent conversion to sulfone. The dependence of the initial reaction rate on catalyst and H2O2 concentrations were investigated. A small set of other sulfides were subjected to catalytic reactions with C, and all reactions resulted in near quantitative conversion. Finally, the sulfide oxygenation activity and stability towards hydrogen peroxide of the diphosphonate complex Na4[Ru2(hedp)2(H2O)Cl] (D, hedp = 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate) was investigated, and D was found to be an effective catalyst, which retains its activity over an extended period of time due to its robustness at the (III,III) oxidation state.
Urinary 2-Hydroxyestrone/16α-Hydroxyestrone Ratio and Family History of Breast Cancer in Premenopausal Women

It has been hypothesized that the ratio of urinary 2-hydroxyestrone to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 represents a biomarker for breast cancer risk; the lower the ratio the higher the risk. We obtained early morning urine samples from 70 'high risk' premenopausal women who had a first degree family history of breast cancer and 27 'low risk' women with no such history. Five estrogen metabolites in urine were determined: 2-OHE1, 16alpha-OHE1, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) conjugates. We compared geometric mean levels of each metabolite adjusted for age and weight. 'High risk' women did not have elevated levels of any of these metabolites. Instead, we observed decrements of 3-27% in women with a family history of breast cancer compared with women without such history, this difference was statistically significant for E2, 2- OHE1, and 16alpha-OHE1. The ratio of 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1 was identical in women with and without a family history of breast cancer. These results were unchanged, when additionally adjusted for recent intake of alcohol or cruciferous vegetables. Our data suggest that among premenopausal women, family history is not associated with higher urinary estrogen levels or a lower ratio of urinary 2-OHE1/16alpha-OHE1.
Bacterial influence on the production of paralytic shellfish toxins by dinoflagellated algae

This study investigated the role of intracellular and extracellular bacteria in the production ofparalytic shellfish toxins by dinoflagellated algal cells. Three strains of the toxic dinoflagellatespecies, Alexandrium tamarense, were purified by external bacteria using penicillin G (Pen.G) at levels of 500 and 1000 p.p.m. Levels of toxicity of the resulting purified dinoflagellatecultures were similar to those of the original strains contaminated with external bacteria,indicating that the external bacteria had no influence on toxicity. No bacterial colony formingunits (cfu) arose from disruption of algal cells derived from penicillin-treated cultures, indicatingthat intracellular bacteria were not responsible for the toxicity of cultures.
Structural basis for the divergent evolution of influenza B virus hemagglutinin.

Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for the severe morbidity and mortality worldwide in annual influenza epidemics. Currently circulating influenza B virus belongs to the B/Victoria or B/Yamagata lineage that was diverged from each other about 30–40 years ago. However, a mechanistic understanding of their divergent evolution is still lacking. Here we report the crystal structures of influenza B/Yamanashi/166/1998 hemagglutinin (HA) belonging to B/Yamagata lineage and its complex with the avian-like receptor analogue. Comparison of these structures with those of undiverged and diverged influenza B virus HAs, in conjunction with sequence analysis, reveals the molecular basis for the divergent evolution of influenza B virus HAs. Furthermore, HAs of diverged influenza B virus strains display much stronger molecular interactions with terminal sialic acid of bound receptors, which may allow for a different tissue tropism for current influenza B viruses, for which further investigation is required.
Bibliotherapy: Using books to help children deal with problems

This article presents the bibliotherapeutic approach as a clinical strategy for working with children. The article offers an overview of bibliotherapy, how the approach can be used in treatment, and recommended books for treating various problems facing children. The authors emphasize that the research on the effectiveness of bibliotherapy is inconclusive and that the bibliotherapeutic technique should only be utilized as an adjunctive therapy.
Ultrastructure of sperm and spermathecae in Micromaldane spp. (Polychaeta: Capitellida: Maldanidae)

Assessing the possibility that external fertilization has ‘re-evolved’ requires the study of monophyletic groups that exhibit various reproductive methods. Maldanid polychaetes show a range of reproductive mechanisms, though previous studies of reproduction have hitherto been restricted to larger species with external fertilization. Micromaldane pamelae Rouse and M. nutricula Rouse are small, gonochoristic maldanids that brood directly developing larvae. Both species have sperm with elongate nuclei and an acrosome extending down each side of the anterior end of the nucleus. A true midpiece is absent; two mitochondria extend along the posterior region of the nucleus. Spermatids develop synchronously in large clusters connected by a cytophore. In M. pamelae sperm are released into the water as spermatozeugmata. These are comprised of clusters of sperm with their tails oriented to the centre and the sperm heads facing outwards. Females of M. pamelae and M. nutricula bear pairs of spermathecae ventrally (M. pamelae three pairs, between setigers 10 and 11, 11 and 12 and 12 and 13 and M. nutricula two pairs, between setigers 10 and 11 and setigers 11 and 12). The blind sacs are epidermal invaginations bound closely together. The entrance to each spermatheca may only be 1 to 2 μm across with each spermatheca holding several hundred sperm. This represents the first detailed study of spermathecae in the Capitellida. The occurrence and structure of spermathecae and spermatozeugmata in other groups are discussed and compared with Micromaldane spp. Comparisons are made with non-polychaetes with the purpose of discussing functional aspects of reproductive mechanisms in marine metazoans in general. Elongate sperm nuclei are associated with sperm storage and/or large egg size. The lack of an elongate sperm midpiece may be an indicator of having to swim in water but does not contraindicate sperm storage. Spermatozeugmata may serve as an indication of sperm storage and brooding of larvae. Speculations on the phylogenetic significance of these reproductive features are limited by the fact that supposedly modified (i.e., derived) states may reflect functional/structura, constraints of small body size.
High-Degree Concentration of Bio-agents using Electrokinetic Manipulations

Techniques used for the upstream collection of bio-warfare agents often result in a large, dilute sample volume composed of a wide variety of moieties. Nonetheless, current bioassays, though constantly being refined, benefit from a highly concentrated sample, leading to an enhanced signal to noise ratio and increasing the ultimate sensitivity. This report describes an electrokinetics-based sample concentration device designed to concentrate bio-agents, such as bacillus spores, from a relatively large volume (~500 ?l) to be within a nanoliter volume for downstream target processing and detection. The concentrator can later be integrated with other fluidic sample processing devices and sensors for the development of a stand-alone bio-agent surveillance system.
Effect of Microstructural Banding on the Fatigue Behavior of Induction-Hardened 4140 Steel

The fatigue behavior of induction-hardened calcium-treated 4140 steel with three different case depths was evaluated using rotating bending fatigue tests. The as-received microstructure of the steel was banded and the orientation of microstructural banding with respect to the fatigue specimen was varied. Due to the inclusion shape control resulting from the calcium additions, inclusions in the steel were not elongated in the direction of the banding. It was found that microstructure banding does not have a significant influence on the fatigue properties of the steel tested. Furthermore, the fatigue limit increase with case depth is primarily related to the bending stress near the location of crack nucleation.
MONOTONE PROPERTIES OF A GENERAL DIAGNOSTIC MODEL

Monotonicity properties of a general diagnostic model (GDM) are considered in this paper. Simple data summaries are identified to inform about the ordered categories of latent traits. The findings are very much in accordance with the statements made about the GPCM (Hemker, Sijtsma, Molenaar, & Junker, 1996, 1997). On the one hand, by fitting a GDM with equal slopes across items, the observed total score X+ = Σj:qjk=1 xj demonstrates the monotone likelihood ratio (MLR) property in individual coordinate at the cost of losing model fit. On the other hand, fitting a GDM without slope restriction increases the model fit but by sacrificing MLR property. Trade-offs between these two situations should be considered in practice.
Response to selection, combining ability and heritability of coleoptile length in winter wheat

Selection of winter wheat cultivars with long coleoptiles is an important component of improving emergence, weed suppression and grain yield in low rainfall regions of the world. Seven winter wheat cultivars were hybridized in a Griffing’s half-diallel mating design, method 2 (reciprocals excluded, parents included), model 1 (fixed), and the progeny analyzed for coleoptile length in the F1 through F4 for response to selection, general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and heritability. Highly significant differences existed for GCA among progeny in each generation. SCA was highly significant in the F1, F2 and F4, although SCA estimates were inconsistent among generations in each progeny population. The SCA/GCA ratio was 0.15, 0.11, 0.06 and 0.04 in the F1 through the F4, respectively, indicating that additive effects increased with homozygosity. Broad-sense heritability for coleoptile length was estimated at 0.86, 0.76, 0.60 and 0.78 for the F1 through the F4, respectively. Realized heritabilities ranged from −0.16 to 0.85 with a mean of 0.32 in the F3 and ranged from −0.68 to 0.68 with a mean of 0.13 in the F4. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (RS) were significant for all generation comparisons except the F1:F2, indicating that changes in rank for coleoptile length were insignificant. Cultivars with long coleoptiles and high GCA were the best parents for improving coleoptile length. Sustained selection over generations for coleoptile length was more effective than one generation of selection for genotypes both with and without reduced height genes.
Comparative water relations of seedling and adult Quercus species during gallery forest expansion in tallgrass prairie

Abstract Seasonal patterns in xylem pressure potential (ψ) and stomatal conductance to water vapor ( g ) were compared between seedlings (1–5 years old) invading tallgrass prairie and adult trees of Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak) and Quercus muehlenbergii (Chinquapin oak) in adjacent gallery forest. Water is often limiting to productivity in the Flint Hills of NE Kansas, thus, we hypothesized that seedlings invading a grassland would have lower ψ and g compared with adult trees, reflecting competitive interactions for water between seedlings and the dominant grasses. We found that ψ was usually lower in adult trees than in older seedlings, but in the very smallest seedlings ψ was significantly reduced compared with mature (greater than 50 years) individuals. Adult and 1- to 2-year-old seedlings had similar g during the season with highest g occurring in older (4- to 5-year-old) seedlings. In general, Q. muehlenbergii had higher ψ and lower g than Q. macrocarpa consistent with reports that Q. muehlenbergii is more drought tolerant. Rapid and extensive root growth characteristic of Quercus seedlings reduced the period of time when seedlings invading prairie must compete with the grasses for water, although water stress may still be an important factor affecting first-year seedlings in this ecosystem. In contrast, strong intraspecific competition for water within mature gallery forests may have reduced ψ and g in forest trees. Thus, the potential for water stress to impact Quercus survival and growth in this drought-prone ecosystem is greatest during establishment and then after forest development is complete. Older seedlings (greater than 4–5 years old), saplings and isolated trees within the prairie may experience the least water stress due to a reduction in both inter- and intraspecific competition for water. These data suggest that in the absence of severe fire or drought occurring during the growing season, gallery forests will continye to expand into tallgrass prairie.
Analysis of a model for the effects of an external toxin on anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion has been modeled as a two-stage process using coupled chemostat models with non-monotone growth functions, [9]. This study incorporates the effects of an external toxin. After reducing the model to a 3-dimensional system, global stability of boundary and interior equilibria is proved using differential inequalities and comparisons to the corresponding toxin-free model. Conditions are given under which the behavior of the toxin-free model is preserved. Introduction of the toxin results in additional patterns such as bistabilities of coexistence steady states or of a periodic orbit and an interior steady state.
Effect of sweep angles on aerodynamic performance of double arrow wing - An analytical study

Hybrid wing planforms are studied for adoption on supersonic transport and fighter aircraft. The free vortex sheet method is used to determine effects of the leading-edge sweep angles on the aerodynamic performance of a double arrow wing with a strake. Results show lift and drag increase with the increase of the inboard and outboard leading-edge sweep angles. However, the lift-to-drag ratio is little influenced by the changes in these sweep angles. Spanwise surface pressure distributions on the aft region are influenced by the inboard sweep angle while the outboard sweep angle has no effect on these pressures. Finally, the experimental data and predicted results are compared to show good agreement.
Deformation mechanisms in the intermetallic compound TiAl

Abstract Samples of a polycrystalline Ti-52at.°Al alloy have been deformed in compression at room temperature and 600°C to strains of ≈3°. The deformation microstructures have been characterized using transmission electron microscopy. It is found that, at room temperature, glide of dislocations with b = <101] has occurred, with some contribution from twinning. Dislocations with b=1/2<110] make up a negligible fraction of the dislocation density, and it is argued that these defects are in essence sessile at room temperature. However, in samples deformed at 600°C, the dislocation population is dominated by those with b=1/2<110], whereas those with b = <101] are most often involved in Kear-Wilsdorf configurations. These various results, including the line directions of the dislocations, are interpreted on the basis of the effect of covalent bonding on the anisotropy of the Peierls stresses (following the work of Greenberg, Anisimov, Gornostirev and Taluts) and therefore dislocation mobilities in this compoun...
Investigation of the relationship between the presence of a Gram-positive bacterial infection and summer mortality of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas Thunberg

Abstract The occurrence of Pacific oyster nocardiosis (PON) was found to correspond with peak periods of summer mortality as described for Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas , reared in certain bays in Washington State and British Columbia. Areas in which 2-year or older Pacific oyster historically experience summer mortality and bacterial infection are embayments where water temperatures and nutrient levels become elevated during the summer months. Pacific oysters reared in three sites in both Washington State and British Columbia, Canada, contained the bacterial pathogen. An examination of the seasonality of the bacterial disease in Oakland Bay, Washington State, showed a peak prevalence of infection during the month of September. Although the ratio of male:female oysters was generally 1:1 at most locations sampled, between late August and November bacterial foci were more often found in males and reproductively immature oysters than in females. However, approximately equal numbers of male and female oysters were infected in early summer. Diseased oysters contained an infiltration of hemocytes surrounding tufts of Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Nocardia . Injection of the bacterium isolated from diseased oysters into healthy oysters resulted in infections with the same characteristic histopathological changes as observed in individuals with PON. The seasonal coincidence and involvement of older oysters containing bacterial foci suggests that PON is a causal factor in summer mortality in certain areas.
A longitudinal assessment of occupation, respiratory symptoms, and blood lead levels among latino day laborers in a non-agricultural setting.

Background The reliance on Latino migrant day labor in the U.S. is increasing. Prospective data on day laborers' work and health experience in non-agriculture settings are lacking and outcomes are generally restricted to injury rates. Methods An ambidirectional study was conducted to quantify the number of job and job task changes held over 12 months in a cohort of 73 migrant day laborers and assessed the relation between work type, health symptoms, and blood lead level. Results On average, participants worked 2.4 different jobs over the past year averaging 41.5 hr per week. Construction work was associated with a twofold increase in sino-nasal and respiratory symptoms in both adjusted and unadjusted models and was associated with increased blood lead levels. Conclusions Despite day labor status, workers had relatively stable employment. Respiratory symptoms were common and often improved when away from work suggesting that workplace irritant exposure is likely. Migrant day laborers working construction are vulnerable to adverse health effects associated with irritant and lead exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:366–374, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mineralogy and Petrology of the Iron Hill Carbonatite Complex, Colorado

Bulk rock and mineral chemistry of the rock types occurring in the Iron Hill carbonatite complex have been examined in order to determine the genetic link between carbonatites and the alkaline igneous rocks with which they are ubiquitously associated. A variety of silicate rock types, including pyroxenite, uncom-pahgrite, ijolite, and nepheline syenite is developed at Iron Hill. The carbonatites are composed dominantly of calcite, ankeritic dolomite, or siderite. Only a rare variety of calcite carbonatite contains significant amounts of silicate minerals. Silicate minerals in the calcite carbonatite are generally intermediate in composition to those occurring in ijolite and nepheline syenite. These data, together with the scarcity of rock types gradational between silicate and carbonate varieties, suggest the possible separation of a discrete carbonate fluid phase during the latter part of the crystallization of the silicate series postdating formation of the ijolite but prior to the crystallization of the nepheline syenites. Calcite-dolomite and pyrite-pyrrhotite pairs indicate temperatures of crystallization of late-stage carbonatites of the order of 435° C to 290° C at sulfur fugacities of 10 −7.8 b and oxygen fugacities of the order of 10 −25 to 10 −26 b.
Recent changes (1930s–1990s) in spatial patterns of interior northwest forests, USA

Abstract We characterized recent historical and current vegetation composition and structure of a representative sample of subwatersheds on all ownerships within the interior Columbia River basin and portions of the Klamath and Great Basins. For each selected subwatershed, we constructed historical and current vegetation maps from 1932 to 1966 and 1981 to 1993 aerial photos, respectively. Using the raw vegetation attributes, we classified and attributed cover types, structural classes, and potential vegetation types to individual patches within subwatersheds. We characterized change in vegetation spatial patterns using a suite of class and landscape metrics, and a spatial pattern analysis program. We then translated change in vegetation patterns to change in patterns of vulnerability to wildfires, smoke production, and 21 major forest pathogen and insect disturbances. Results of change analyses were reported for province-scale ecological reporting units (ERUs). Here, we highlight significant findings and discuss management implications. Twentieth century management activities significantly altered spatial patterns of physiognomies, cover types and structural conditions, and vulnerabilities to fire, insect, and pathogen disturbances. Forest land cover expanded in several ERUs, and woodland area expanded in most. Of all physiognomic conditions, shrubland area declined most due to cropland expansion, conversion to semi- and non-native herblands, and expansion of forests and woodlands. Shifts from early to late seral conifer species were evident in forests of most ERUs; patch sizes of forest cover types are now smaller, and current land cover is more fragmented. Landscape area in old multistory, old single story, and stand initiation forest structures declined with compensating increases in area and connectivity of dense, multilayered, intermediate forest structures. Patches with medium and large trees, regardless of their structural affiliation are currently less abundant on the landscape. Finally, basin forests are now dominated by shade-tolerant conifers, and exhibit elevated fuel loads and severe fire behavior attributes indicating expanded future roles of certain defoliators, bark beetles, root diseases, and stand replacement fires. Although well intentioned, 20th-century management practices did not account for landscape-scale patterns of living and dead vegetation that enable forest ecosystems to maintain their structure and organization through time, or for the disturbances that create and maintain them. Improved understanding of change in vegetation spatial patterns, causative factors, and links with disturbance processes will assist managers and policymakers in making informed decisions about how to address important ecosystem health issues.
Equilibrium with strategy-dependent trembles

Trembling-hand arguments, introduced by Selten, where players make errors in implementing a strategy, are a successful and intuitively plausible approach to eliminating some equilibria. Typically, these errors are independent of the strategy the player aims to implement. In many contexts, however, when a player aims at one strategy, some errors are more likely than if a different strategy is the target. We introduce the notion of strategy-dependent trembles where each strategy intended by a player implies a different probability vector of errors over other strategies. This seemingly minor but plausible change makes a major difference. The focus becomes a player's own errors rather than the errors of others. A weakly dominated strategy is not necessarily eliminated if less costly errors arise when aiming at it than at the dominating strategy. Almost every Nash equilibrium in pure strategies is a strategy-dependent trembling-hand perfect equilibrium.
Mechanisms of cache recovery by yellow pine chipmunks

Abstract The mechanisms yellow pine chipmunks, Tamias amoenus , use to retrieve scatter-hoarded food were investigated in an arena using dry sand as a caching substrate and antelope bitterbrush seeds as the hoarded food. When seeds were moist, chipmunks readily found caches using their olfactory sense, but they seldom found air-dried seeds in dry sand by olfaction. Some chipmunks employed extensive exploratory digging to find caches but their success rates (caches found/digs made) were generally less than 4%. When foraging for caches that they themselves had made among the caches of other chipmunks, subjects found significantly more of their own caches. Furthermore, when landmarks near caches were moved, chipmunks searched in the ‘correct’ sites relative to the moved landmarks. This suggests that yellow pine chipmunks remember the locations of caches. Spatial memory of cache sites, olfaction, exploratory digging and perhaps the use of non-remembered visual cues form a highly integrated system for recovering caches and finding hidden food.
Circulation and biodistribution profiles of long-circulating PEG-liposomes of various sizes in rabbits

To determine the largest size of liposomes that can retain stealth behavior conferred by poly(ethylene glycol)-DSPE, neutral liposomes were studied in rabbits for their circulation and distribution. Five sizes (136.2, 165.5, 209.2, 275 and 318 nm) of liposomes (DSPC, Cholesterol, PEG-DSPE and alpha-tocopherol, 90:80:4.5:3.9 molar ratio) were made by extrusion technique and radiolabeled with technetium-99m (Tc-99m) to follow their distribution through 24 h. Although all liposomes showed prolonged circulation in blood, the amount still in circulation at 24 h was dependent on their size. Radioactivity accumulation in spleen progressively increased with increase in size of the liposomes. In the size range of approximately 160-220 nm, liver uptake was minimum, spleen uptake was moderate while the amount of circulating liposomes was maximum. Gamma camera scintigraphy corroborated the distribution pattern of liposomes on necropsy. Images within 1h showed high blood pool activities for liposomes of all sizes. However, at 24h, the blood pool activity was diminished for 275 nm and negligible for 308 nm liposomes; the smaller sized liposomes (136.2-209.2 nm) continued to show high blood pool activity. The amounts of radioactivity still circulating at 24h were 46.4, 50.4, 46.8, 36.2 and 14.5% for 136.2, 165.5, 209.2, 275 and 318 nm liposomes, respectively. Corresponding circulation T(1/2)s were 21.7, 26.5, 24.9, 18.7 and 8.9h, respectively. Thus, the optimum size of PEG-liposomes for prolonged circulation in rabbits is 160-220 nm. Beyond this range, the stealth property of PEG-liposomes is significantly compromised and the distribution is characterized by high RES accumulation.
Cunxi Wang · Kevan P.C. Croft · David F. Hildebrand.

Auxin [α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-acetic acid] can induce the expression of lipoxygenases (LOXs) in cultured immature zygotic embryo cotyledons of soybean [Glycine max. (L.) Merr]. These auxin-induced LOXs are different from those normally expressed in seeds but have the same isoelectric points (pI) as those found in seedlings. The pIs of the two seedling LOXs were determined to be 5.09 and 5.23. One of the auxin-induced LOXs has the same pI (5.09) and molecular mass (94 kDa) as seedling LOX4. The partial amino acid sequences from the purified NAA-induced pI-5.09 LOX are identical to those of LOX4. RNA protection assays showed that NAA induces the expression of LOX4 and LOX5 mRNAs in cultured embryo cotyledons where they are not normally expressed. Soybean genotypes with a polymorphic variant of LOX4 in hypocotyls showed the same variation as NAA-induced LOXs in the embryo cotyledons. These results demonstrate that the NAA-induced pI-5.09 LOX is seedling LOX4 and also suggest that auxin might be directly or indirectly involved in seedling LOX expression during seed germination.
Effects of pH and resources on a processing chain interaction in simulated treeholes

1. Both resources and abiotic factors may affect biotic interactions. One interaction that occurs in treehole habitats involves leaf shredders that facilitate growth of detritivores, and it may be affected by both leaf litter quantity and changes in water quality. 2. Water chemistry in central Pennsylvania treeholes has been impacted by acid deposition, and the most common insects therein have differential survival under low pH conditions. Experimental microcosms that mimic treehole habitats were used to test the hypothesis that this abiotic factor, pH, also affects facilitative interactions. Leaf litter resources and pH were varied independently of presence of leaf-shredding scirtid beetles (Helodes pulchella and Prionocyphon discoideus), and the mosquito Aedes triseriatus, to examine interactions among pH, resources and insects. 3. pH affected the interaction between the insects, such that effects of scirtids were more evident at pH 4·5 than at 6·5. Female mosquitoes were larger in the presence of scirtids, low resource and low pH conditions than in absence of scirtids, low resource and low pH conditions. 4. There were also effects of A. triseriatus on scirtids. The size of individual scirtids was smaller in the presence of A. triseriatus, but total scirtid biomass was unaffected as survival was also higher in the presence of A. triseriatus. 5. The effects observed on a resource-mediated biotic interaction led to the conclusion that this interaction is pH dependent, and gives support to the concept that abiotic factors play a role in determining the outcome of biotic interactions, and that acidification can have complex effects on communities.
Class IA PI3K p110β Subunit Promotes Autophagy through Rab5 Small GTPase in Response to Growth Factor Limitation

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved membrane trafficking process. Induction of autophagy in response to nutrient limitation or cellular stress occurs by similar mechanisms in organisms from yeast to mammals. Unlike yeast, metazoan cells rely more on growth factor signaling for a wide variety of cellular activities including nutrient uptake. How growth factor availability regulates autophagy is poorly understood. Here we show that, upon growth factor limitation, the p110β catalytic subunit of the class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) dissociates from growth factor receptor complexes and increases its interaction with the small GTPase Rab5. This p110β-Rab5 association maintains Rab5 in its guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound state and enhances the Rab5-Vps34 interaction that promotes autophagy. p110β mutants that fail to interact with Rab5 are defective in autophagy promotion. Hence, in mammalian cells, p110β acts as a molecular sensor for growth factor availability and induces autophagy by activating a Rab5-mediated signaling cascade.
Interconnect-Centric High Level Synthesis for Enhanced Layouts with Reduced Wire Length

In deep sub-micron (DSM) technologies, the interconnect significantly impacts the design performance and reliability: a considerable fraction of the total circuit power is consumed by interconnects, crossing the global interconnects requires multiple clock cycles and the wire capacitance directly affects the noise levels. This paper introduces a novel high- level synthesis (HLS) methodology that exploits architectural optimizations that lead to final circuits (layouts) with enhanced interconnect power and delay without introducing any overhead. We present a new interconnect-centric scheduling algorithm and a global binding that combines the functional unit binding and register binding. These routines generate circuits with improved interconnect through minimizing the nets (the number and fan-out) and steering logic. The binding process achieves this by considering clusters of operations as compatible candidates instead of individual operations, while the scheduling makes assignments that maximize the cluster compatibility. The experiments with several synthesis benchmarks show the effectiveness of the approach in reducing the total number, the average fan-out and the length of the nets without introducing any logic overhead. We achieved an average reduction of approximately 16% in total wire length compared to the layout of the designs generated by conventional synthesis tools.
A review of the bioactivity of South African herbal teas: rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia)

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia) are popular tisanes in their native South Africa and have a growing worldwide market. Both herbal teas are used traditionally for medicinal purposes and are rich in polyphenols with rooibos a rare source of the dietary dihydrochalcones, aspalathin and nothofagin. The principal polyphenols in honeybush include the xanthone mangiferin and the flavonones hesperitin and isokuranetin. Despite their divergent phytochemical and nutrient compositions, rooibos and honeybush share potent antioxidant and antimutagenic activities in vitro. Animal model studies indicate both herbal teas possess potent antioxidant, immune-modulating and chemopreventive actions. However, human studies of rooibos are limited and of honeybush are absent. No adverse effects of rooibos or honeybush consumption as tisanes have been reported.
A defense of indeterminism

My goal is to defend the indeterminist approach to vagueness, according to which a borderline vague utterance is neither true nor false. Indeterminism appears to contradict bivalence and the disquotational schema for truth. I agree that indeterminism compels us to modify each of these principles. Kit Fine has defended indeterminism by claiming that ordinary ambiguous sentences are neither true nor false when one disambiguation is true and the other is false. But even if Fine is right about sentences, his point does not seem to generalize to utterances. What the indeterminist needs -- and what ordinary ambiguity does not provide -- is an ambiguous utterance where what is being said is indeterminate between two different propositions. I will show that such cases exist. These cases imply that the modifications that indeterminism makes to bivalence and the disquotational schema are required independently of indeterminism, in fact independently of vagueness.
How Nano Are Nanocomposites

Composite materials loaded with nanometer-sized reinforcing fillers are widely believed to have the potential to push polymer mechanical properties to extreme values. Realization of anticipated properties, however, has proven elusive. The analysis presented here traces this shortfall to the large-scale morphology of the filler as determined by small-angle X-ray scattering, light scattering, and electron imaging. We examine elastomeric, thermoplastic, and thermoset composites loaded with a variety of nanoscale reinforcing fillers such as precipitated silica, carbon nanotubes (single and multiwalled), and layered silicates. The conclusion is that large-scale disorder is ubiquitous in nanocomposites regardless of the level of dispersion, leading to substantial reduction of mechanical properties (modulus) compared to predictions based on idealized filler morphology.
Experiments in rooting bishop pine ( Pinus muricata D. Don) cuttings

Presented here are results of rooting studies using hedges established from juvenile seedlings of “blue” and “green” foliaged bishop pine (Pinus muricata D. Don) from Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, California. Rootability, averaged over all clones and all setting dates, was 88%. The average time for 50% of the cuttings to root was 6 months. In general, cuttings began to root rapidly in late winter/early spring. The time of year when cuttings were set determined how soon they began a phase of rapid rooting, with cuttings set in winter and early spring beginning faster than other setting dates. The period of rapid rooting lasted 2–3 months until mid/late summer, beyond which time, rooting was slow. Population and family differences in rooting were not significant; differences in rooting among clones, however, were large and significant. Analyses of clones in two experiments indicated that rooting was heritable.
Determinants of external ventricular drain placement and associated outcomes in patients with spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage.

External ventricular drain (EVD) usage in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is variable in current practice and in clinical trials, and its impact on outcome remains controversial. The objective of this study was to identify the clinical predictors of EVD utilization, and associated outcome in adults with spontaneous IVH with or without intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Retrospective review of 183 consecutive IVH patients admitted to a University Hospital between 2003 and 2010. Clinical and radiographic data were analyzed for associations between EVD placement and mortality, poor outcome, and improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) using multivariate logistic regression models. Average age was 62 ± 15.6 years, and average ICH and IVH volumes were 35.8 ± 40.9 cc and 19.7 ± 25.3 cc, respectively. Independent predictors of EVD placement within first 5 days of admission were GCS ≤ 8 (OR 11.5; P 5 (OR 4.6; P = 0.001), and non-lobar ICH ≤ 30 cc (OR 9.7; P 3 after controlling for ICH and IVH severity (OR 0.02; P = 0.01). Patients with lower GCS, higher IVH severity, and lower ICH volume are more likely to have an EVD placed. EVD placement is associated with reduced mortality and improved short-term outcomes in patients with IVH after adjusting for known severity factors. EVD use should be protocolized in clinical trials of ICH management where IVH is included.
Stress formulation in 3D elasticity and application to spherically uniform anisotropic solids

Abstract We formulate the boundary value problem of traction for inhomogeneous anisotropic elastic materials in terms of stresses following the method introduced by Pobedria and apply it to spherically anisotropic materials. An example of spherically symmetric deformation of spherically uniform anisotropic materials is presented.
Temperature effects on thirst: Cutaneous or oral receptors?

Water intake of rats was not greatly different as a function of the ambient temperature in which the water was consumed provided that the temperature of the water was maintained at 25 °C. If water temperature was allowed to follow ambient temperature, then less water was consumed in cool environments. Thirst is modulated by receptors in or around the mouth and not in the skin.
The Ethics of Life Insurance Settlements: Investing in the Lives of Unrelated Individuals

Life insurance settlements, or life settlements, are life insurance policies owned by investor-beneficiaries on the lives of unrelated individuals. With life settlements, investors make substantial payments to the insured individuals upon purchasing such policies, pay any remaining premiums, and collect the death benefits upon the demise of the insured individuals. Transactions involving life settlements seem poised to become a major source of profits for investment banks, comparable in dollar amount to subprime mortgages. With life settlements, the insured individuals suffer no immediate harm, and the sale of a policy an individual owns is permissible under current law. Nevertheless, moral questions can be posed about the social values expressed by these practices, the effect of these practices on the virtue of charity, and the overall loss of social utility that will result from life settlements. We consider life settlements from utilitarian and libertarian perspectives, and then consider the effects of life settlements on social values and on individual character. On balance, we favor legislative changes in insurance and tax laws to discourage life settlements, and argue that certain forms of life settlements should be banned outright.
The JNK inhibitor SP600129 enhances apoptosis of HCC cells induced by the tumor suppressor WWOX

Background/Aims The FRA16D fragile site gene WWOX is a tumor suppressor that participates in p53-mediated apoptosis. The c-jun N-terminal kinase JNK1 interacts with WWOX and inhibits apoptosis. We investigated the function of WWOX in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the effect of JNK inhibition on WWOX-mediated apoptosis. Methods Allelic imbalance on chromosome 16 was analyzed in 73 HCCs using 53 microsatellite markers. WWOX mRNA in HCC cell lines and primary HCCs was measured by real-time RT-PCR. Effects of WWOX on proliferation and apoptosis and the interaction between WWOX and JNK inhibition were examined. Results Loss on chromosome 16 occurred in 34 of 73 HCCs. Of 11 HCC cell lines, 2 had low, 7 intermediate, and 2 had high WWOX mRNA. Of 51 primary tumors, 23 had low WWOX mRNA. Forced expression of WWOX in SNU387 cells decreased FGF2-mediated proliferation and enhanced apoptosis induced by staurosporine and the JNK inhibitor SP600129. Conversely, knockdown of WWOX in SNU449 cells using shRNA targeting WWOX increased proliferation and resistance to SP600129-induced apoptosis. Conclusions WWOX induces apoptosis and inhibits human HCC cell growth through a mechanism enhanced by JNK inhibition.
Mechanistic studies on class I polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase from Ralstonia eutropha: class I and III synthases share a similar catalytic mechanism.

The Class I and III polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthases from Ralstonia eutropha and Chromatium vinosum, respectively, catalyze the polymerization of β-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A (HBCoA) to generate PHB. These synthases have different molecular weights, subunit composition, and kinetic properties. Recent studies with the C. vinosum synthase suggested that it is structurally homologous to bacterial lipases and allowed identification of active site residues important for catalysis [Jia, Y., Kappock, T. J., Frick, T., Sinskey, A. J., and Stubbe, J. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 3927−3936]. Sequence alignments between the Class I and III synthases revealed similar residues in the R. eutropha synthase. Site-directed mutants of these residues were prepared and examined using HBCoA and a terminally saturated trimer of HBCoA (sT-CoA) as probes. These studies reveal that the R. eutropha synthase possesses an essential catalytic dyad (C319−H508) in which the C319 is involved in covalent catalysis. A conserved Asp, D480, wa...
The promise and the caution of resilience models for schools

Resilience is a very useful construct for framing school mental health services to children and is particularly applicable to mental health services in school settings. Still, resilience perspectives should not be overgeneralized to school mental health practice because risk and resilience wax and wane over time and daily decisions about students' needs for support must remain flexible and responsive to these changes. This article describes shifts and changes in early indicators of school success for third- through fifth-grade students in a Midwestern elementary school as one example of the power and limitations of resilience models' applicability. The example is used to argue for caution in interpreting early indicators of risk as predicting subsequent poor student outcomes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fusion of quantized data for Bayesian estimation aided by controlled noise

In this paper, we consider a Bayesian estimation problem in a sensor network where the local sensor observations are quantized before their transmission to the fusion center (FC). Inspired by Widrow's statistical theory on quantization, at the FC, instead of fusing the quantized data directly, we propose to fuse the post-processed data obtained by adding independent controlled noise to the received quantized data. The injected noise acts like a low-pass filter in the characteristic function (CF) domain such that the output is an approximation of the original raw observation. The optimal minimum mean squared error (MMSE) estimator and the posterior Cramer-Rao lower bound for this estimation problem are derived. Based on the Fisher information, the optimal controlled Gaussian noise and the optimal bit allocation are obtained. In addition, a near-optimal linear MMSE estimator is derived to reduce the computational complexity significantly.
Comparison of BMI, AHI, and Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE-ε4) Alleles among Sleep Apnea Patients with Different Skeletal Classifications

Study Objectives:This case-control study investigated whether variations within the APOE-e gene were associated with having a convex facial profile (skeletal Class II) compared to exhibiting a stra...
Iterative aperture mask design in phase space using a rank constraint.

We present an iterative camera aperture design procedure, which determines an optimal mask pattern based on a sparse set of desired intensity distributions at different focal depths. This iterative method uses the ambiguity function as a tool to shape the camera’s response to defocus, and shares conceptual similarities with phase retrieval procedures. An analysis of algorithm convergence is presented, and experimental examples are shown to demonstrate the flexibility of the design process. This algorithm potentially ties together previous disjointed PSF design approaches under a common framework, and offers new insights for the creation of future application-specific imaging systems.