cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf) in melanoma differentiation

We transfected the melanocyte-specific Mitf-M isoform into the aggressive melanoma UISO-Mel-6 cell lines. Our data show that Mitf decreases cell proliferation and results in cells which grow in clusters. By analyzing the expression of the markers of differentiation, we demonstrate that Mitf favored increased expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1. In addition, Mitf induces Bcl-2 expression following transfection of UISO-Mel-6 cells. We also showed that Mitf gene affects cell-cycle distribution by resting cells preferentially in G2/G1 phase, and inducing the expression of p21 and p27. Moreover, we performed in vivo studies using subcutaneous injection of UISO-Mel-6 and UISO-Mel-6-Mitf in Balb/c nude mice. Our data show that Mitf inhibits tumor growth and decreases Ki67 expression. Tumors induced by UISO-Mel-6 cells were ulcerated and resulted in metastases to liver. None of the mice injected with UISO-Mel-6 Mitf+ cells harbored liver metastases. Our results suggest that Mitf is involved in melanoma differentiation and leads to a less aggressive phenotype.
An exploratory framework of the determinants of financial satisfaction

This paper presents a description of the development and testing of a framework for understanding the determinants of financial satisfaction. This study used data obtained from a random sample of white-collar clerical workers (N = 220). Direct, as well as indirect, effects on financial satisfaction were identified using a path analysis method. It was determined that financial satisfaction is related, both directly and indirectly, with diverse factors including financial behaviors, financial stress levels, income, financial knowledge, financial solvency, risk tolerance, and education. Findings support the continued and increased use of targeted education initiatives directed at improving the financial literacy and behavior of family and consumer economics constituencies.
The role of interorganizational trust and organizational efficacy in family and nonfamily firms

Abstract This article extends research on family firm social capital by examining two components of family firm social capital, organizational efficacy and interorganizational trust, and their influence on performance in family and nonfamily firms. Using a sample of 157 family and nonfamily suppliers to a University, we find that suppliers’ organizational efficacy and trust in the buyer positively predict performance in family and nonfamily firms. Contrary to expectations, there were no significant differences between family and nonfamily firms in the level of organizational efficacy and interorganizational trust. We also find that the interaction of organizational efficacy and interorganizational trust predicts performance in family firms. Based on these findings, we discuss implications for theory development and provide suggestions for future research.
Case Study: Energy Industry Economic Impacts from Ohio River Transportation Disruption

Recent history is full of water transport disruption events that have had significant economic effects on the waterside industries. Such disruptions may be either natural or man-made disasters or planned outages on the river's lock and dam structures. To assess coal-based economic impacts for the Ohio River Basin, we developed a network flow model to represent waterside coal-fired power plants situated along the Ohio River, their respective coal supplying mines, and the various transportation modes that connect them. We show that significant transportation-centric insights can be derived by using only commonly available spreadsheet-based analysis tools, open-source information systems, and web-based geographic tools.
Anatomical relationships between type II pneumonocytes and alveolar septal gaps in the human lung.

This report describes a relationship between type II pneumonocytes and breaks in continuity in the alveolar septum of the human lung. Breaks in continuity of the septum are defined as gaps in the connective tissue matrix of the alveolar septum, with or without discontinuity of the accompanying alveolar epithelium. Septal connective tissue gaps accompanied by epithelial discontinuity are recognized as interalveolar pores of Kohn. When the discontinuity is confined to the connective tissue matrix, epithelial continuity may be maintained by either a single or a double layer of type I epithelium, by a type II cell, or by both type I and type II epithelial cells. Alveolar septal gaps were studied by electron microscopy on random sections in 26 adult human lung specimens and by serially sectioning and montaging the entire circumference of one alveolus to a depth of 103 microns (approximately one-half a normal alveolus) from one of the specimens. Fixation was by way of the airways in most specimens, but by vascular perfusion in the serially sectioned specimen and in seven others. In lungs studied by random sections, we found that the incidence of septal connective tissue gaps with epithelial continuity per specimen correlated with the incidence of pores (r = .468, P less than .016), and also with the incidence of type II cells (r = .422, P less than .025) in the specimen. Five percent of all type II cells observed in the random sections in the 26 specimens (103/1,955) occupied septal gaps, and 2.5% (49/1,955) were located at the rim of a pore. In contrast, in the single serially sectioned montaged alveolus, 69% of all type II cells occupied some type of septal gap, with 24% of all type II cells forming part of the rim of a pore. Over half of all pores in this alveolus were associated with a type II cell. We concluded that a relationship between the incidence of type II cells and gaps in the alveolar septum could be demonstrated on random sections in normal human lungs, which was much more obvious in a single serially sectioned hemialveolus. Serial section techniques of whole alveoli may be necessary to establish relationships that may not be apparent on random sections and that require the study of whole cells in continuity with their environment in order to be identified. The findings may be significant in suggesting a possible role of the type II cell in alveolar septal repair.
A History of Theatre in Africa. Edited by Martin Banham. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004, pp. xvii + 478; $140 cloth.

One of the greatest challenges to teaching world theatre history in the United States is that the vast majority of survey history books spend two dozen chapters on the theatre of the West, giving the theatres of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East a single chapter each at best. In addition, there have to date been no comprehensive histories of African theatre covering the entire continent, Africa north of the Sahara being linked for cultural reasons with the Middle East instead of geographically with the rest of the continent. A History of Theatre in Africa, edited by the pioneer of African-theatre scholarship, Martin Banham, is an excellent, if uneven, redressing of those imbalances.
Embryo transfer in the mare: A status report

Abstract Embryo transfer in the horse has progressed enormously since the first successful transfers in the early 1970s. Currently, the embryo recovery rate in young, fertile mares is 55–80% and the pregnancy rate after transfer is about 70%. Recovery rates, pregnancy rates and pregnancy maintenance in recipients are lower for embryos from subfertile mares. There is little repeatable difference in pregnancy rate between surgical and transcervical transfer. Recipient mares have the best pregnancy rates if they ovulate from 1–2 days before to 2–3 days after the donor. Ovariectomized mares treated with progesterone in synchrony with donor ovulation may also be used successfully as embryo recipients. Embryo recovery rates are essentially doubled when mares spontaneously double ovulate; however, mares do not respond significantly to superovulation regimes such as administration of pituitary extract, pulsatile gonatrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) (in anestrous mares) or immunization to inhibin, all of which result in an average of only three follicles ovulated per cycle. Twins can be created by bisection of equine embryos but the success rate is low, probably because of interference by the capsule during manipulation. Similarly, while small embryos freeze well, freezing of large equine embryos (those with capsules) results in a poor pregnancy rate. Equine embryos may be stored for 24 h at 4°C with no loss in viability. Intensive gamete manipulations such as in vitro oocyte maturation and fertilization are in their infancy; however, there have been foals produced by transfer of oocytes to the oviducts of recipient mares and by in vitro fertilization. Blastocysts have been produced by transfer of in vitro matured equine oocytes to the oviducts of recipients and by transfer of immature oocyte to the preovulatory follicles of mares.
A Visual Analytics Approach to Understanding Spatiotemporal Hotspots

As data sources become larger and more complex, the ability to effectively explore and analyze patterns among varying sources becomes a critical bottleneck in analytic reasoning. Incoming data contain multiple variables, high signal-to-noise ratio, and a degree of uncertainty, all of which hinder exploration, hypothesis generation/exploration, and decision making. To facilitate the exploration of such data, advanced tool sets are needed that allow the user to interact with their data in a visual environment that provides direct analytic capability for finding data aberrations or hotspots. In this paper, we present a suite of tools designed to facilitate the exploration of spatiotemporal data sets. Our system allows users to search for hotspots in both space and time, combining linked views and interactive filtering to provide users with contextual information about their data and allow the user to develop and explore their hypotheses. Statistical data models and alert detection algorithms are provided to help draw user attention to critical areas. Demographic filtering can then be further applied as hypotheses generated become fine tuned. This paper demonstrates the use of such tools on multiple geospatiotemporal data sets.
Scaling relationships for analyzing kinetics in GaN epitaxial lateral overgrowth

In the epitaxial lateral overgrowth of GaN, mass transport and the effects of crystal-growth kinetics lead to a wide range of observed feature growth rates depending on the dimensions of the masked and exposed regions. Based on a simple model, scaling relationships are derived that reveal the dynamic similarity of growth behavior across pattern designs. A time-like quantity is introduced that takes into account the varying transport effects, and provides a dimensionless time basis for analyzing crystal growth kinetics in this system. Illustrations of these scaling relationships are given through comparison with experiment.
Room-temperature subwavelength metallo-dielectric lasers

We demonstrate room-temperature pulsed laser emission from optically pumped metallo-dielectric cavities that are smaller than their emission wavelength in all three dimensions. The cavity consists of an aluminium/silica bi-layer shield surrounding an InGaAsP disk in which the thickness of the silica layer is optimized to minimize the gain threshold of the laser. The lasers are pumped using a 1,064-nm pulsed fibre laser with a pulse width of 12 ns and repetition rate of 300 kHz. Lasing emission at 1.43 µm is observed from a laser with slightly elliptical gain core with major and minor diameters of 490 and 420 nm, respectively. Owing to the isolation provided by the aluminium shield, this laser design approach can be used to create arrays of uncoupled lasers with emitter densities that are close to the Rayleigh resolution limit. Room-temperature lasing from metallo-dielectric cavities that are smaller than their emission wavelength in all three dimensions is reported. The cavity consists of an aluminium/silica bi-layer shield that surrounds an InGaAsP disk. The gain threshold of the laser is minimized by optimizing the thickness of the silica layer.
Scoliosis in Chickens: Responsiveness of Severity and Incidence To Dietary Copper

The severity and incidence of spinal lesions were manipulated in a line of chickens susceptible to scoliosis by varying their dietary intake of copper. A decrease in expression of the lesion was related to increased intake of copper. The change in expression, however, appeared to be related only indirectly to the defects in collagen cross-linking, maturation, and deposition known to be associated with dietary copper deficiency. Thus, a dietary constituent in the range of normal intakes may act as an environmental factor in the expression of scoliosis.
Lateral bias in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): concordance between parents and offspring

We examined lateral bias for looking, reaching, and turning in 33 tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) comprising 29 parent–offspring dyads (13 mother–offspring dyads and 16 father–offspring dyads). We found evidence for maternal and paternal contributions to the direction of looking bias but no evidence for contribution from either parent to the direction of reaching bias. Further, we found evidence of differential maternal and paternal influences on the direction of offspring turning bias. Finally, we found no evidence of parental contribution to the strength of lateral bias for any of our measures. Our results indicate that parental contributions to lateral bias in humans and apes may not correspond to those in monkeys. ©1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 31: 143–147, 1997
Hepatic fibrosis 2006: Report of the third AASLD Single Topic Conference†

The Third American Associated for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)-sponsored Single Topic Conference on hepatic fibrosis was held in June 2006. The conference was both international, with 6 countries represented, and cross-disciplinary, linking the basic molecular and cellular biology of fibrogenic cells to clinical trial design for emerging antifibrotic therapies. The specific goals of the conference were: (1) to consolidate knowledge about the natural history of fibrosis; (2) to clarify potential endpoints and markers; (3) to emphasize new antifibrotic targets developed on the basis of advances in basic science; and (4) to understand current critical issues pertaining to clinical trial design. Given the tremendous growth of the field and the constraints of a 2-day format, the selection of speakers was a challenge. A number of topics not included in the oral presentations were featured at poster sessions, lending breadth and depth to the meeting as a whole. Surprising new themes emerged about molecular, clinical, and regulatory aspects of the field, and a consensus emerged that hepatic fibrosis has matured into an integrated discipline that promises to significantly improve the prognosis of patients with fibrosing liver disease.
Asymmetric information diffusion via gossiping on static and dynamic networks

In this paper we consider the problem of gossiping in a network to diffuse the average of a sub-set of nodes, called sources, and directing it to another sub-set of nodes in the network called destinations. This case generalizes the typical average consensus gossiping policy, where all nodes are both sources and destinations. We first describe prior results we obtained on a static network topology and gossip policy, high-lighting what conditions lead to the desired information flow. We show that, through semi-directed flows, this formulation allows to solve the problem with lower complexity than using plain gossiping policies. Inspired by these results, we move on to design algorithms to solve the problem in the dynamic case. For the dynamic network scenario we derive conditions under which the network converges to the desired result in the limit. We also provide policies that trade-off accuracy with increased mixing speed for the dynamic asymmetric diffusion problem.
A Structural Rearrangement of the Na+/K+-ATPase Traps Ouabain within the External Ion Permeation Pathway

With the use of the energy of ATP hydrolysis, the Na+/K+-ATPase is able to transport across the cell membrane Na+ and K+ against their electrochemical gradients. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by ouabain and its derivatives, some that are therapeutically used for patients with heart failure (cardiotonic steroids). Using lanthanide resonance energy transfer, we trace here the conformational changes occurring on the external side of functional Na+/K+-ATPases induced by the binding of ouabain. Changes in donor/acceptor pair distances are mainly observed within the α subunit of the enzyme. To derive a structural model matching the experimental lanthanide resonance energy transfer distances measured with bound ouabain, we carried out molecular dynamics simulations with energy restraints applied simultaneously using a novel methodology with multiple non-interacting fragments. The restrained simulation, initiated from the X-ray structure of the E2(2K+) state, became strikingly similar to the X-ray structure of the sodium-bound state. The final model shows that ouabain is trapped within the external ion permeation pathway of the pump.
Antigenic relationship of legume seed proteins to the 7S seed storage protein of soybean

Abstract Extracts enriched for globulin proteins were prepared from the seeds of a large number of legume species and were tested for homology to antisera prepared against the glycosylated 7S seed storage protein of the soybean ( Glycine max ). Electrophoretic identification and subsequent analysis of proteins precipitated with 7S antisera was useful at relatively short taxonomic distances, particularly within the tribe Phaseoleae, to which G. max belongs. Glycine and most other members of the subtribe Glycininae are unusual within the Phaseoleae in having high molecular weight ( > 70 000 dalton) subunit polypeptides. Seeds from other plants representing other subtribes of the Phaseoleae also contained proteins that cross-reacted with the G. max antisera; the molecular weights of these proteins varied from 30 000 to nearly 90 000 daltons. Homology was detected across a wider range of legume tribes within the subfamily Papilionoideae by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results of these experiments suggest both that the 7S proteins of these tribes are evolutionarily related and that at least some features of these apparently rapidly-evolving proteins are under relatively strong selectional constraint.
Microwave hot electron effects in semiconductor quantized inversion layers

Abstract Hot electron microwave conductivity of quantized inversion layers in semiconductor surfaces has been calculated based on a displaced Maxwellian approximation for the electron distribution function. The calculations performed take into account repopulation of carriers among the various subbands. The effects of the energy, momentum and intervalley population exchange rates due to scattering by acoustical and intervalley phonons are included in the derivations. The results are applied to silicon where the electron energy and momentum losses by intervalley phonons in both the zero-order coupled and first-order coupled cases are important. Numerical computations for the microwave conductivity of silicon are presented as a function of bias electric field and frequency. It is found that significant changes in the conductivity contribution for a fixed bias field occur at frequencies on the order of the intervalley repopulation rate. Though no experimental work in this frequency range has been performed, it should be easily observable.
Oxo ligand functionalization in the uranyl ion (UO22

Abstract Uranyl (UO 2 2+ ) is an exceptionally stable molecular species, characterized by a linear O U O geometry and short U–O bonds. Its two oxo ligands are thought to be inert to exchange and resistant to functionalization. However, a growing body of literature suggests that this assessment may need to be reevaluated. This review summarizes the chemistry of the two oxo ligands of the uranyl ion. In particular, we explore the interaction of the uranyl oxo ligands with Lewis acids, and outline attempts to selectively functionalize the oxo ligands of uranyl by chemical means. We also discuss the kinetic and mechanistic knowledge for oxo ligand exchange under acidic, basic and photolytic conditions.
Detection of ACTH-producing bronchial carcinoid tumors: MR imaging vs CT.

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-producing bronchial carcinoid tumors tend to occur in the middle third of the lung adjacent to pulmonary vessels. Because they cause signs and symptoms when quite small (by virtue of their ACTH production), they may not be detected by CT. MR imaging was performed in 10 consecutive patients with surgically proved ACTH-producing bronchial carcinoid tumors in order to test the ability of MR to clarify equivocal or indeterminate findings on CT examinations. All bronchial carcinoid tumors had high signal intensity on T2-weighted and short-inversion-time inversion-recovery images, facilitating their distinction from pulmonary vasculature. In eight patients, the CT and MR images were equivalent in the detection of bronchial carcinoid tumors. In two patients, MR showed tumors in the middle third of the lung that were equivocal on CT. MR imaging may distinguish small bronchial carcinoid tumors from adjacent pulmonary vessels in the central third of the lung at a time when the CT...
OPERATORS ON MODULI FOR SPHERICAL MAPS OF HOMOGENEOUS SPACES

The DoCarmo–Wallach theory studies isometric minimal immersions f : M → Sn of a compact Riemannian homogeneous space M = G/K into Euclidean n-spheres. The parameter space of such immersions is a compact convex body in a representation space for the Lie group G. In this article we give a very general definition of the moduli space and study its geometric properties such as the distortion (as a convex set). In addition, we introduce a general notion of operators, derive various criteria under which they map the moduli into one another, and finally, we show that, under general conditions, the operators are distortion decreasing.
Developing INFOGENETICS: Experience Guiding Primary Care Providers to Access Medical Genetics Information Electronically in Clinic for Patient Care• 729

Developing INFOGENETICS: Experience Guiding Primary Care Providers to Access Medical Genetics Information Electronically in Clinic for Patient Care• 729
Effects of grain size and grain boundaries on defect production in nanocrystalline 3C–SiC

Abstract Cascade simulations in single crystal and nanocrystalline SiC have been conducted in order to determine the role of grain boundaries and grain size on defect production during primary radiation damage. Cascades are performed with 4 and 10 keV silicon as the primary knock-on atom (PKA). Total defect production is found to increase with decreasing grain size, and this effect is shown to be due to increased production in grain boundaries and changing grain boundary volume fraction. In order to consider in-grain defect production, a new mapping methodology is developed to properly normalize in-grain defect production rates for nanocrystalline materials. It is shown that the presence of grain boundaries does not affect the total normalized in-grain defect production significantly (the changes are lower than ∼20%) for the PKA energies considered. Defect production in the single grain containing the PKA is also studied and found to increase for smaller grain sizes. In particular, for smaller grain sizes the defect production decreases with increasing distance from the grain boundary while for larger grain sizes the presence of the grain boundaries has negligible effect on defect production. The results suggest that experimentally observed changes in radiation resistance of nanocrystalline materials may be due to long-term damage evolution rather than changes in defect production rates from primary damage.
Group contribution methods for molecular mixtures. I. Interaction site models

Abstract This paper uses interaction site models from statistical mechanics to obtain microscopic interpretations of group contribution expressions for thermodynamic properties of mixtures. Conventional developments of group contribution methods first divide properties into combinatorial and residual terms and we provide a microscopic interpretation of this division as a separation of properties into hard- and soft-core contributions. For the general property of an interaction site model, we find that only a few additional assumptions are needed to attain rigorous group contribution forms for the residual portion of the property. For some properties, including the internal energy, free energy, and chemical potential, the general group contribution forms reduce to integrals over sets of new pair distribution functions—group-group distribution functions. We define these new pair functions and show how they are calculable from the usual site-site distribution functions. All properties may not be simplified in this way, however. In particular, the pressure in interaction site models can be expressed in the general group contribution form, but it cannot be simplified to an integral over just the group-group distribution functions: the pressure depends explicitly on local orientational structure.
Intelligent medical diagnostics via molecular logic.

In this communication, we describe the integration of microarray sensor technology with logic capability for screening combinations of proteins and DNA in a biological sample. In this system, we have demonstrated the use of a single platform amenable to both protein detection and protein−DNA detection using molecular logic gates. The pattern of protein and DNA inputs results in fluorescence outputs according to a truth table for AND and INHIBIT gates, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of performing medical diagnostics using a logic gate design. One possible application of this technique would be direct screening of various medical conditions that are dependent on combinations of diagnostic markers.
Motor Insulation Degradation Due to Switching Surges and Surge Protection Requirements

Failure investigation of four 21,000 HP synchronous motors concluded that the cause is related to voltage surges and as a result surge protection was applied to all 13.2 kV motors in the plant. (Ref.l) Further failures of three 21,000 HP synchronous motors after the installation of surge arresters indicated an inadequacy of the specified surge protection. Two of the failed motors were tested at the manufacturer's facility to investigate the cause of failure. Test results concluded that insulation failure was caused by the combined effects of prior insulation degradation and inadequate surge protection. This paper presents an investigation into the three failed motors.
Electron-phonon interaction and transport in semiconducting carbon nanotubes.

We calculate the electron-phonon scattering and binding in semiconducting carbon nanotubes, within a tight-binding model. The mobility is derived using a multiband Boltzmann treatment. At high fields, the dominant scattering is interband scattering by $LO$ phonons corresponding to the corners $K$ of the graphene Brillouin zone. The drift velocity saturates at approximately half the graphene Fermi velocity. The calculated mobility as a function of temperature, electric field, and nanotube chirality are well reproduced by a simple interpolation formula. Polaronic binding give a band-gap renormalization of $\ensuremath{\sim}70\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$, an order of magnitude larger than expected. Coherence lengths can be quite long but are strongly energy dependent.
Two New North American Species of Draba (Brassicaceae): D. Heilii from New Mexico and D. Mulliganii from Alaska

Abstract. The new species Draba heilii from the alpine tundra of northern New Mexico, and D. mulliganii from limestone and serpentine outcrops in Alaska, are described. From the related D. standleyi, D. heilii is distinguished by the smaller leaves undifferentiated (vs. strongly differentiated) into blade and petiole, thickened midvein (vs. not thickened), setose (vs. non-setose) leaf margin, and lanceolate (vs. linear-elliptic to elliptic) fruits. Draba mulliganii differs from the related D. porsildii by the broadly obovate petals 3.2–4.0 mm long (vs. spatulate petals 1.5–2.2 mm long), non-appressed fruits with styles 0.4–1.0 mm long (vs. appressed fruits with styles 0.05–0.10 mm long), and abaxial leaf surface with 8–12-rayed stellate trichomes often without spurred rays (vs. 3–5-rayed trichomes often with some rays 1-spurred).
Enhancing the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programs targeted to unique population groups in Thailand: lessons learned from applying concepts of diffusion of innovation and social marketing.

Diffusion of innovations theory and social marketing theory have been criticized for their limited applicability in influencing unique population groups (e.g., female commercial sex workers (CSWs) working in low-class brothels). This study investigated the applicability of these two theoretical frameworks in outreach efforts directed to unique populations at high risk for HIV/AIDS in Bangkok, Thailand. Further, this study examined Thai cultural characteristics that influence communication about HIV/AIDS prevention. The results suggest that certain concepts and strategies drawn from the two frameworks were used more or less by effective outreach programs, providing several policy-relevant lessons. Cultural constraints, such as the lack of visibility of the disease and traditional sexual practices, influenced communication about HIV/AIDS prevention.
Comparison of Diet, Reproductive Biology, and Growth of the Pig Frog (Rana grylio) from Harvested and Protected Areas of the Florida Everglades

Distinct differences in body size exist among three Rana grylio populations in areas of the Florida Everglades that differ in frog harvest pressure and hydroperiod. Frogs from two populations are harvested regularly throughout the year, while those in the third are protected from harvest. We compared seasonal and sex differences in diet, reproduction, and growth across these populations to examine life-history patterns. By volume, crayfish and anurans were the most abundant prey items for all adults across sites. Frogs from drier sites consumed more crayfish than frogs from the wettest site. Anurans were abundant in the diet during the wet season, while crayfish and fish were abundant during the dry season. More frogs with empty stomachs were captured during the wet season than the dry season. Feeding, growth, and fat deposition were greatest during the dry season across all sites. Although females were found in all reproductive stages throughout the year, the highest percentage of females had mature ova during the late dry season and spent ovaries during the early wet season. Individual patterns of growth were similar across all sites and matched historical growth data from the 1950s. Differences in body size among sites were most likely attributable to differential mortality (i.e., harvest pressure, predation) rather than to differences in food access or growth.
REVISION OF TENTICOSPIRIFER TIEN, 1938, AND SIMILAR SPIRIFERID BRACHIOPOD GENERA FROM THE LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN) OF EURASIA, NORTH AMERICA, AND AUSTRALIA

The cyrtospiriferid brachiopod genus Tenticospirifer Tien, 1938, is revised based on restudy of the type species from the Frasnian (Late Devonian) of the Russian Platform. As revised the genus includes cyrtospiriferid species with pyramidal ventral valves, catacline ventral interareas, a narrow delthyrium, few sinal plications, and lack a median dorsal septum and pseudodeltidium. All species retained in the genus are of Givetian and Frasnian age. All Famennian age species described from South China and North America are rejected from the genus. It appears that Tenticospirifer evolved during the early Givetian in western Europe and remained endemic to that region during the remainder of the Givetian. Successive migrations of Tenticospirifer from eastern Laurussia to North America, then to South China and possibly Australia, coincided with middle and late Frasnian eustatic sea level rises, respectively. The North American species Spirifera cyrtinaformis Hall and Whitfield, 1872, and related species identified as Tenticospirifer by North American workers, are reassigned to Conispirifer Lyashenko, 1985. Its immigration to and widespread dispersal in carbonate platforms of western Laurussia, northern Gondwana and tropical island arcs (?) coincided with a major late Frasnian eustatic sea level rise. The new family Conispiriferidae is proposed with Conispirifer Lyashenko, 1985, selected as the type genus. The new family also includes the new genus Pyramidaspirifer with Platyrachella alta Fenton and Fenton, 1924, proposed as the type species. The affinity of the new family remains uncertain pending restudy of key genera currently included in the Superfamily Cyrtospiriferoidea. Available data from the Devonian brachiopod literature indicate that species of Pyramidaspirifer are restricted to late Frasnian deposits of central and western North America.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation of rasagiline mesylate for Parkinson’s disease

Introduction: Oxidative stress reduction via monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibition with rasagiline is under investigation to modify the course of Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. Rasagiline moderately improves motor symptoms and therefore reduces the predominant levodopa-associated wearing-off phenomena.Areas covered: Following a PubMed database search with the terms rasagiline and selegiline, this review describes the role of rasagiline in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, within a critical discussion of current treatment guidelines. This so-called evidence based research suggests that rasagiline is an alternative to the catechol-O-methyltransferase-inhibitor entacapone, in the treatment of wearing-off phenomena.There is some recent evidence to suggest rasagiline also has monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibiting properties, as well as different clinical and pharmacodynamic properties when compared with selegiline, and clinical benefits when used in combination with a dopamine agonist monotherapy....
Predictive treatment management: incorporating a predictive tumor response model into robust prospective treatment planning for non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose We hypothesized that a treatment planning technique that incorporates predicted lung tumor regression into optimization, predictive treatment planning (PTP), could allow dose escalation to the residual tumor while maintaining coverage of the initial target without increasing dose to surrounding organs at risk (OARs). Methods and Materials We created a model to estimate the geometric presence of residual tumors after radiation therapy using planning computed tomography (CT) and weekly cone beam CT scans of 5 lung cancer patients. For planning purposes, we modeled the dynamic process of tumor shrinkage by morphing the original planning target volume (PTV orig ) in 3 equispaced steps to the predicted residue (PTV pred ). Patients were treated with a uniform prescription dose to PTV orig . By contrast, PTP optimization started with the same prescription dose to PTV orig but linearly increased the dose at each step, until reaching the highest dose achievable to PTV pred consistent with OAR limits. This method is compared with midcourse adaptive replanning. Results Initial parenchymal gross tumor volume (GTV) ranged from 3.6 to 186.5 cm 3 . On average, the primary GTV and PTV decreased by 39% and 27%, respectively, at the end of treatment. The PTP approach gave PTV orig at least the prescription dose, and it increased the mean dose of the true residual tumor by an average of 6.0 Gy above the adaptive approach. Conclusions PTP, incorporating a tumor regression model from the start, represents a new approach to increase tumor dose without increasing toxicities, and reduce clinical workload compared with the adaptive approach, although model verification using per-patient midcourse imaging would be prudent.
Stallings Foldings and Subgroups of Free Groups

We re-cast in a more combinatorial and computational form the topological approach of J.Stallings to the study of subgroups of free groups.
Effect of hydrothermal treatment on physicochemical and digestibility properties of oat starch

The oat grain is often subjected to different hydrothermal treatments to inactivate hydrolytic enzymes that can have undesirable effects on the end-product quality. Hydrothermal treatments may affect the functional properties of oat starch. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of eight different hydrothermal treatments on the physicochemical and digestibility properties of oat starch. Hydrothermal treatments were selected based on heat treatment applications in oat industry and listed as HT-1) Ethanol boil HT-2) Ethanol boil and toasted HT-3) Steamed at 106 °C HT-4) Steamed at 106°C and toasted HT-5) Covered autoclaved at 120 °C HT-6) Uncovered autoclaved at 120 °C HT-7) Covered autoclaved at 130 °C and HT-8) Uncovered autoclaved at 130 °C. The morphology of the oat starch was altered as a result of various heat treatments. HT-5 and HT-7 treatments had more large starch granules than the other samples, however the apparent molecular weight of the starch from these samples was unaffected by the treatment. HT-6 and HT-8 resulted in the most significant changes to the gelatinization properties of the oat starch. HT-6 oat sample had significantly (P < 0.05) lower paste viscosity than starches from the oat samples with other treatments. The in vitro starch digestibility increased significantly (P < 0.05) for the HT-6 and HT-8 oat samples. This study demonstrated that thermal treatments can cause reorganization of the amylose and amylopectin chains that can result in changes in their physicochemical and digestibility properties.
The velocity of compressional waves in rocks to 10 kilobars: 1.

The velocity of compressional waves has been determined by measurement of travel time of pulses in specimens of rock at pressures to 10 kilobars and room temperature. Most of the samples, mainly igneous and metamorphic rocks, furnished three specimens oriented at right angles to one another. The present paper gives experimental details, modal analyses, and numerical tables of velocity as function of direction of propagation, initial density, and pressure. Discussion of various aspects of the measurements is reserved for part 2.
Ab initio electronic structure study of a model water splitting dimer complex.

A model manganese dimer electrocatalyst bridged by μ-OH ligands is used to investigate changes in spin states that may occur during water oxidation. We have employed restricted open-shell Hartree–Fock (ROHF), second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF), and multireference second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory (MRMP2) calculations to investigate this system. Multiconfigurational methods like CASSCF and MRMP2 are appropriate methods to study these systems with antiferromagnetically-coupled electrons. Orbital occupations and distributions have been closely analyzed to understand the electronic details and contributions to the water splitting from manganese and oxygen atoms. The presence of Mn(IV)O˙ radical moieties has been observed in this catalytic pathway. Multiple nearly degenerate excited states were found close to the ground state in all structures. This suggests competing potential energy landscapes near the ground state may influence the reactivity of manganese complexes such as the dimers studied in this work.
Ninety-six hour ketamine infusion with co-administered clonidine for treatment-resistant depression: A pilot randomised controlled trial

Objectives We examined the feasibility of a high-dose, 96-h infusion of ketamine in treatment-resistant depression. Methods Ten participants were randomised to receive a 96-h ketamine infusion, titrated as tolerated to a target rate of 0.6 mg/kg/h, while 10 received a 40-min ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg). Both groups received clonidine, titrated to a maximum of 0.6 mg orally daily, during the infusion to mitigate side effects of ketamine. Participants were followed for 8 weeks to examine potential antidepressant effects. Results All 20 participants completed the infusion. Most participants tolerated the infusion well, with minimal psychotomimetic symptoms or blood pressure elevation despite achieving high ketamine concentrations (mean 424 ng/ml for 96-h arm, 156 ng/ml for 40-min arm). There was no rebound hypertension upon discontinuing clonidine. Rapid and sustained improvement in depressive symptoms was observed in both study groups. Higher ketamine concentration was associated with sustained antidepressant response, and was not with greater psychotomimetic side effects, in the 96-h arm. Conclusions This study provides evidence for the feasibility of prolonged ketamine infusions in treatment-resistant depression. Co-administration of clonidine appeared to mitigate ketamine's psychotomimetic effects. Further study is required to investigate the extent to which prolonged ketamine infusions could provide both rapid and sustained improvements in treatment-resistant depression. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01179009.
Memorandum on Supreme Court Vacancies and Confirmations During Presidential Election Years

The author summarizes historical examples of Supreme Court vacancies during presidential election years (or the year prior), and the outcomes of presidential nominations to those Supreme Court vacancies. The facts are quite striking, and refute widespread arguments by Republican politicians that President Obama should not nominate, and the Senate should not approve or even consider (until after Obama's term concludes), any replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on February 13, 2016.There is not a single case in American history in which an incumbent president chose not to make a Supreme Court nomination in such circumstances, even for vacancies occurring extremely late during the president's term. Of the total of 26 such vacancies considered, the Senate gave full consideration to nominees in at least 23 cases (88%), and 22 (85%) of the vacancies were successfully filled by the incumbent president.Two of the 26 cases, however, when an incumbent president made a nomination after being reelected, are best excluded as irrelevant. Of the remaining 24 relevant vacancies -- 15 occurring during the election year (or even in the early part of the year following) and 9 occurring during the year before the election year but persisting into the election year -- 21 (87.5%) received Senate consideration and 20 (83%) were successful. Further excluding seven vacancies which occurred after June during the election year (thus much closer to the election and allowing much less time to consider a nominee), 15 of the 17 remaining vacancies (88%) were successfully filled by the incumbent president, and all but one case (94%) received full Senate consideration.In the one solitary case (April 1844) of an early-election-year vacancy that did not receive a full Senate vote, there were actually two vacancies pending that year, and that lame-duck president did obtain two final Senate votes on, and eventually succeeded in filling, the other vacancy, which occurred in December 1843, right before that election year.The most highly relevant comparison would be with the eight vacancies that actually occurred during a presidential election year, but no later than June. The president, again, made a nomination in all eight of those cases, at least seven of eight (87.5%) received full Senate consideration, and six of eight (75%) were successful.
Depolarizing molecular rotations in magneto-electric light scattering

Nonlinear light scattering experiments in solid and liquid dielectrics with a range of electronic structures point to the importance of molecular rotations in enhancing second-order magneto-electric interactions and generating depolarization.
Genre Theory for Product Instructions and Warnings

Tort law has long imposed two separate duties upon manufacturers regarding nonobvious dangers in their products: the duty to instruct and the duty to warn. This Article applies rhetorical genre theory as developed by leading scholars and applied by commentators in law and in technical communication to instructions and warnings. Genre theory supports imposing two separate duties because instructions and warnings are two separate genres, each with a different act as its goal: the former gives directions on safe use of a product while the latter calls attention to nonobvious dangers. The Article also recommends the second-person, present-tense (You) Do this kernel sentence as the primary conventional marker for these genres, with modifications of this sentence toward policies and procedures to indicate instructions and toward the product to indicate warnings.
Development of a low-cost hand-held system for optical coherence tomography imaging(Conference Presentation)

We report the development of a low-cost hand-held optical coherence imaging system. The proposed system is based on the principle of linear optical coherence tomography (Linear OCT), a technique which was proposed in the early 2000s as a simpler alternative to the conventional time-domain and Fourier-domain OCT. In our design, as in the traditional Michaelson interferometer, light from a broadband source is split into sample and reference beams. Unlike in a Michaelson interferometer though, upon return, a tilt is introduced to the reference beam before it is combined with the sample beam to illuminate a detector array. The resulting fringe pattern encodes information about the relative time-of-flight of photons between the sample and reference arms, which can be decoded by standard signal processing techniques to obtain depth resolved reflectivity profiles of the sample. The axial resolution and the SNR of our system was measured to be approximately 5.2 μm and 80 dB, respectively. The performance of the proposed system was compared with a standard state-of-the-art Fourier-domain low coherence interferometry (LCI) system by imaging several biological and non-biological samples. The results of this study indicate that the proposed low-cost system might be a suitable choice for applications where the imaging depth and SNR can be traded for lower cost and simpler optical design. Two potentially useful applications of the proposed imaging system could be for imaging the human tympanic membrane (TM) for diagnosing middle ear pathologies, and to visualize the sub-surface features of materials for non-destructive evaluation and quality inspection.
Determination of EETs using microbore liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P-450 metabolites of arachidonic acid involved in the regulation of vascular tone. The method of microbore column high-performance liquid chromatogra...
Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control of dual-output four-leg Indirect Matrix Converter under unbalanced load and supply conditions

Model Predictive Control (MPC) is an optimization based control method that solves a multi-objective optimization problem to determine the optimal control action that minimizes a given cost function. This control technique is very promising for switching converters because its implementation is straightforward and it has been shown to provide good performance. This paper presents predictive control scheme for dual-output four-leg Indirect Matrix Converter (IMC). This two-stage topology consists of a bidirectional three-phase rectifier cascaded by a four-leg dual-output inverter. The two three-phase output load currents can be controlled independently by solving a single multi-objective optimization problem. The proposed method aims to control the two ac load currents under unbalanced load condition and unbalanced supply condition. Simulation results show that the proposed method performs quite well under both steady-state and transient conditions.