cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cooperative responses of DNA-damage-activated protein kinases ATR and ATM and DNA translesion polymerases to replication-blocking DNA damage in a stem-cell niche.

Abstract Conserved DNA-damage responses (DDRs) efficiently cope with replication blocks and double-strand breaks (DSBs) in cultured eukaryotic cells; DDRs in tissues remain poorly understood. DDR-inactivating mutations lethal in animals are tolerated in Arabidopsis, whose root meristem provides a powerful stem-cell-niche model. We imaged UVB-induced death of specific meristem cells in single and double Arabidopsis mutants to elucidate cooperation among DNA translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases (Polη, Polζ) and DNA-damage-activated protein kinases (ATR, ATM). Death was 100-fold higher in stem and progenitor (StPr) cells than in transiently amplifying cells. Quantitative analyses of dose–response plots showed that Polη and Polζ act redundantly to tolerate replication blocks and that Polζ-mediated TLS requires ATR. Deficient TLS resulted in ATM-signaled death, which first appeared 10–14 h post-UVB. Although ssDNA downstream of blocks was likely cleaved into DSBs throughout S phase, death pathways appeared to initiate late in S. In atm mutants death appeared much later, likely signaled by a slow ATR-dependent pathway. To bypass replication blocks, tissues may use TLS rather than error-free pathways that could generate genomic aberrations. Dynamic balances among ATR and ATM death-avoidance and death-signaling functions determine how many DSB-burdened StPr cells are killed. Their replacement by less-burdened quiescent-center cells then restores growth homeostasis.
Analysis of a family of unstable lattice orientations in (110) channel die compression

The family of f.c.c. crystal orientations defined by loading direction (110) and any channel die constraint direction between ( $$00\bar 1$$ ) and ( $$1\overline {12} $$ ) is kinematically unstable. We establish that the experimentally observed finite rotation of the lattice about the loading axis, for initial orientations in this range, is uniquely predicted by the constraints and critical slip-system inequalities without regard to particular hardening theory. We further establish that experimental information on the changing constraint stress would serve to distinguish among theories. Predictions of three specific hardening rules, including classical Taylor hardening and the “simple theory”, are illustrated for initial constraint directions ( $$1\overline 1 \overline {16} $$ ) and ( $$3\bar 3\bar 7$$ ). For the first of these orientations the predictions include constraint stress, lattice rotation, active and latent hardening, and overall crystal shearing to a logarithmic compressive strain of 1.0.
Genome Sequence of Bivens Arm Virus, a Tibrovirus Belonging to the Species Tibrogargan virus (Mononegavirales: Rhabdoviridae)

The new rhabdoviral genus Tibrovirus currently has two members, Coastal Plains virus and Tibrogargan virus. Here, we report the coding-complete genome sequence of a putative member of this genus, Bivens Arm virus. A genomic comparison reveals Bivens Arm virus to be closely related to, but distinct from, Tibrogargan virus.
Aflatoxicol: major aflatoxin B1 metabolite in rat plasma

Aflatoxicol, a carcinogenic metabolite of the foodborne carcinogen aflatoxin B1 previously known only as a bioreduction product in vitro, was identified as the major aflatoxin metabolite in the plasma of Sprague-Dawley rats, a susceptible species, that had been doses orally or intravenously with aflatoxin B1 labeled with carbon-14. Alfatoxicol, however, was not detected in the plasma of similarly dosed mice and monkeys, which are both resistant to aflatoxin B1-induced cardinogenesis. The formation of aflatoxicol both in vitro and in vivo may be an indicatory of species sensitivity to aflatoxin-induced carcinogenesis and may be useful in the prediction of human susceptibility.
Manufacturing System Design to Improve Quality Buy Rate: An Automotive Paint Shop Application Study

Manufacturing system design has an impact on product quality. In this paper, we investigate this impact through an application study at an automotive paint shop. Specifically, for repair and rework systems in paint operations, we develop a model to quantify paint quality [in terms of quality buy rate (QBR)] as a function of repair capacity. We show that the QBR can be improved and unnecessary repaints can be reduced by increasing the repair capacity. Note to Practitioners-Manufacturing system design and quality management are important in many manufacturing industries. Although they have attracted substantial research effort, little attention has been paid to address the coupling or interactions between system design and product quality. Empirical evidence and analytical studies have shown that manufacturing system design does impact quality. In this paper, through an application study at a repair and rework system in an automotive paint shop, we show that paint quality, as measured by the quality buy rate, can be improved by designing the system more effectively. Similar problems are also often encountered in other manufacturing systems. Results obtained in this work, along with other results, demonstrate both the theoretical and practical importance of the analysis of manufacturing system design on product quality, and suggest a largely unexplored, but promising research area
Coupled, Circumferential Motions of the Cell Wall Synthesis Machinery and MreB Filaments in B. subtilis

Rod-shaped bacteria elongate by the action of cell wall synthesis complexes linked to underlying dynamic MreB filaments. To understand how the movements of these filaments relate to cell wall synthesis, we characterized the dynamics of MreB and the cell wall elongation machinery using high-precision particle tracking in Bacillus subtilis. We found that MreB and the elongation machinery moved circumferentially around the cell, perpendicular to its length, with nearby synthesis complexes and MreB filaments moving independently in both directions. Inhibition of cell wall synthesis by various methods blocked the movement of MreB. Thus, bacteria elongate by the uncoordinated, circumferential movements of synthetic complexes that insert radial hoops of new peptidoglycan during their transit, possibly driving the motion of the underlying MreB filaments.
A comparison of synergeyes versus traditional rigid gas permeable lens designs for patients with irregular corneas.

Objectives To compare whether patients with irregular corneas are more comfortable wearing Synergeyes, a hybrid contact lens, compared with rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients seen from the specialty contact lens practice at the University of Pittsburgh, who were refit with hybrid lenses from November 2005 to December 2006. Inclusion criteria included presence of irregular astigmatism in at least one eye from any cause, prior use of rigid gas-permeable lenses within the past year in at least one eye, lens tolerance issues, and all day use of contacts to attain functional vision. Best corrected spectacle and hybrid lens corrected Snellen acuities, the number of lenses needed to complete the fitting, lens related complications, and whether patients preferred the Synergeyes or rigid lens after at least 3 months of follow-up were used as the variables to compare the safety and efficacy between the two lens modalities. Results Seventy-nine eyes of 54 patients met criteria for inclusion. The average improvement over spectacle acuity was four Snellen lines with the Synergeyes lens. The average number of lenses required to successful fitting was 1.71. On review of patient opinions in follow-up, 79.5% of patients reported comfort was improved compared with rigid lenses, 13.5% said comfort was not better or the same, and 7% believed they were less comfortable. Conclusions In this population, the Synergeyes lens resulted in increased lens tolerability for many patients wearing therapeutic contacts. Patients who are otherwise unable to tolerate rigid gas permeable contacts should attempt use of a hybrid lens before resorting to penetrating keratoplasty.
Impurity controlled phase formation at platinum–sapphire interfaces

Abstract Diffusion-bonding of high purity polycrystalline platinum (Pt) and single crystal sapphire (α-Al2O3) at 1200°C in N2/O2 (air), CO2/CO and argon atmospheres results in the formation of aluminum borate (Al18B4O33) at the interface. The interfacial phase, previously reported as aluminum peroxide oxide (AlO2), was identified using X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and 27 Al and 11 B magic angle spin NMR. The aluminum borate formed in layers as thick as 10 μm according to the reaction: 11 Al 2 O 3 ( s )+4 B [ Pt ]→ Al 18 B 4 O 33 ( s )+4 Al [ Pt ] This reaction proceeds through the diffusion of boron impurities present in the Pt (at the ppm level), oxygen provided by the dissociation of sapphire and the dissolution of Al from Al2O3 into Pt. This study demonstrates the strong influence of trace levels of impurities on the formation of near bulk quantities of an interfacial phase.
Ideal Cleavage Fracture of Transition-Metal Silicides: A Comparison Analysis

A simple empirical model for the ideal cleavage energy, resulting from a rigid-body separation, is proposed in terms of four variables, viz., the elastic stiffness constant, the interplanar spacing, and two adjustable length parameters. The ratio of these parameters is assessed based on the available results of ab-initio slab-supercell calculations. Ideal cleavage energies and stress intensity factors of transition-metal silicides are estimated, and the available fracture toughness data are discussed.
Imaging of the diabetic foot diagnostic dilemmas

Multiple diagnostic imaging modalities are available and beneficial for the evaluation of the diabetic foot. There is not yet "one best test" for sorting out the diagnostic dilemmas commonly encountered. The differentiation of cellulitis alone from underlying osteomyelitis and the early detection of abscesses remain important diagnostic goals. Equally important, differentiation of osteomyelitis and neuroarthropathy remains a difficult job. This is often compounded by postoperative diabetic foot states status after reconstruction. Diagnostic evaluation often involves multiple studies that are complementary and that include conventional radiography, computed tomography, nuclear medicine scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and positron emission tomography.
Electronic surface states of liquid helium

Electrons at the surface of liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ are potentially valuable probes of both static and dynamic properties of the interface. Two species of surface state are discussed. One of these is localized just above the interface, weakly bound by the image force. The existence of this state has been confirmed by direct spectroscopic observation. Measurements of parallel field mobility and life-time on the surface are discussed and compared with predictions. The other surface state is an electron bubble held below the interface with an applied field. A resonance experiment in this geometry determines an effective mass different from the bulk liquid value. Studies of field emission from the bubbles lead to an evaluation of other bubble properties.
Physical vapor deposition of molybdenum and silicon thin films

Abstract Molybdenum disilicide has emerged as one of the leading intermetallics for use at elevated temperatures. With the objective of developing an oxidation resistant coating system for high temperature applications (up to 1600°C), using the concepts of functionally graded materials (FGMs) and combustion synthesis, a research program has been undertaken to synthesize FGMs of molybdenum disilicide composites. This paper focuses on the preliminary research carried out on characterizing the structure-property-processing relationships during the sputter deposition of thin films of molybdenum and silicon. The thin films were deposited onto glass/stainless steel substrates using d.c. magnetron sputtering for molybdenum and r.f. magnetron sputtering for silicon. The processing variables investigated include the cathode power, substrate bias and the chamber pressure. The sputtering rates were determined for both molybdenum and silicon, and found to vary linearly with the cathode power. Details of X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy of the sputtered films are presented.
Lynching in the Mid‐Atlantic, 1882–1940

This essay explores lynching in the Mid‐Atlantic region of the United States between 1880 and 1940. The Mid‐Atlantic States include: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Although the Mid‐Atlantic had a history of both racism and mob violence, lynching episodes in the region were relatively rare during this period in comparison to acts of mob violence in the American South. Understanding why certain regions experienced a dearth of lynching episodes can be just as illuminating as studying states or regions with high levels of mob violence. This essay argues that the lynchings that did take place in the Mid‐Atlantic illustrate that racism and ethnic prejudice could turn violent in the North as well as the South. Why more African Americans and immigrants were not lynched in the Mid‐Atlantic can be traced to the responses of local legal authorities and to the rise of state systems of criminal justice that targeted African Americans and Italians with the death penalty. This pattern is fur...
Text and Context: Language Analytics in Finance

This monograph surveys the technology and empirics of text analytics in finance. I present various tools of information extraction and basic text analytics. I survey a range of techniques of classification and predictive analytics, and metrics used to assess the performance of text analytics algorithms. I then review the literature on text mining and predictive analytics in finance, and its connection to networks, covering a wide range of text sources such as blogs, news, web posts, corporate filings, etc. I end with textual content presenting forecasts and predictions about future directions.
Glycerol stimulation of chlorophyll synthesis, embryogenesis, and carboxylation and sucrose metabolism enzymes in nucellar callus of Hamlin' sweet orange

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) were active in nucellar calli of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange,Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, grown on media containing either 5% sucrose or 2% glycerol as the primary carbon source. Activities of the enzymes, however, were much higher in the glycerol-grown tissues than those grown in sucrose. Glycerol, in addition, stimulated embryogenesis and chlorophyll biosynthesis and initiated the onset of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco) activity. These stimulatory effects, which were not observed in sucrose-grown calli, became more obvious when calli grown on glycerol-containing, agar-solidified medium were transferred and grown in liquid suspension medium containing 2% glycerol. Starch levels in both sucrose- and glycerol-grown tissues were as high as 30% of tissue dry weight. There were, however, higher concentrations of soluble sugars in sucrose-grown calli than those grown on glycerol. Stimulation of embryogenesis, chlorophyll synthesis, Rubisco onset, and activities of PEPCase and SPS by glycerol offered potential prospects in using this compound in citrus tissue cultures.
Isolation and cDNA Cloning of Ksp-cadherin, a Novel Kidney-specific Member of the Cadherin Multigene Family *

Cadherins are recognized as the principal mediators of homotypic cellular recognition and play a demonstrated role in the morphogenic direction of tissue development. We report here the identification of a structurally unique, kidney-specific member of the cadherin multigene family (Ksp-cadherin). cDNA cloning and molecular analysis of the 130-kDa protein confirmed that it was novel and indicated that it most closely resembled members of the LI-cadherin/HPT-1 cadherin subgroup. The predicted protein possesses the definitive cadherin-specific sequence motifs LDRE, DXND, and DXD in well conserved sequential arrangement, and the characteristic cysteine residues found in the last ectodomains of almost all known cadherins. Like LI-cadherin and HPT-1, Ksp-cadherin lacks the prosequence and HAV adhesion recognition sequence typical of most classical cadherins, and possesses a truncated cytoplasmic domain (18-22 amino acids). When expressed in a transient Vaccinia/T7 expression system, Ksp-cadherin displayed the classic calcium sensitivity to trypsin proteolysis that is observed in all cadherins. Immunolocalization studies and Northern analysis indicated that expression of Ksp-cadherin was kidney-specific and limited to the basolateral membranes of renal tubular epithelial cells. In summary, we have identified and cloned a novel, kidney-specific member of the cadherin multigene family that we propose be designated Ksp-cadherin.
Blaschke’s Problem for Timelike Surfaces

A classification of timelike spherical congruences which induce plus or minus the same conformal structure on a timelike surface are classified. In the positive definite setting Hertrich-Jeromin [3] calls this Blaschke’s problem. This classification uses the Mobius geometry for timelike surfaces. The setting differs from the positive definite case because the projectivized light cone in \({\mathbb {R}}^5_1\) can be identified with the sphere S3, while the same construction in \({\mathbb {R}}^5_2\) yields a compact space homeomorphic to \(\frac{s^{2} \times s^{1}}{s^{0}}\), which is not homeomorphic to the Lorentzian sphere \(S^3_1\).
Wave function of the radion in the dS and AdS brane worlds

We study the linearized metric perturbation corresponding to the radion for the generalization of the five dimensional two brane setup of Randall and Sundrum to the case when the curvature of each brane is locally constant but nonzero. We find the wave function of the radion in a coordinate system where each brane is sitting at a fixed value of the extra coordinate. We find that the radion now has a ${\mathrm{mass}}^{2},$ which is negative for the case of de Sitter branes but positive for anti--de Sitter branes. We also determine the couplings of the radion to matter on the branes, and construct the four dimensional effective theory for the radion valid at low energies. In particular we find that in AdS space the wave function of the radion is always normalizable and hence its effects, though small, remain finite at arbitrarily large brane separations.
A synthesis of systematic mineralogy

This paper presents several new diagrams that document previously unappreciated patterns and predictability in systematic mineralogy. They illustrate, for example, that sulfide minerals of single cations contain only intermediate to soft cations (cations with at least some outer-shell electrons). On the other hand, hard cations (those with no outer-shell electrons) only enter into a few sulfide minerals, all of which also contain intermediate cations. Among the simple chloride, fluoride, oxide, and carbide minerals of hard cations, ionic potential (charge/radius) of cations is proportional to that of anions (e.g., from KCl to SiC). Among the simple nitrate, sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, and silicate minerals of hard cations, ionic potential of inter-radical cations is inversely proportional to the ionic potential of the cations in the oxysalt radical (e.g., from KNO 3 to ZrSiO 4 ). Across both of these sets of minerals, non-simple minerals (H 2 O- and OH - -bearing minerals or minerals with extra O 2 - ) in each group typically involve cations of higher ionic potential than those of the simple minerals. The result is predictability and pattern in the compositions of minerals.
Small infrared sensors

Small, low cost, low poer infrared imaging sensors are relatively recent innovation, employing the most advanced MEMS processing techniques, integrated circuit design, optical materials, and focal plane array packaging. We will review the rationale behind the development of low cost, small IR cameras, discuss several of the medium performance applications for these sensors via a modeling analysis, discuss the goals and status of our applied research uncooled focal plane array technology programs, and discuss the future of uncooled focal plane arrays.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Helium beam shadowing for high spatial resolution patterning of antibodies on microstructured diagnostic surfaces

We have developed a technique for the high-resolution, self-aligning, and high-throughput patterning of antibody binding functionality on surfaces by selectively changing the reactivity of protein-coated surfaces in specific regions of a workpiece with a beam of energetic helium particles. The exposed areas are passivated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and no longer bind the antigen. We demonstrate that patterns can be formed (1) by using a stencil mask with etched openings that forms a patterned exposure, or (2) by using angled exposure to cast shadows of existing raised microstructures on the surface to form self-aligned patterns. We demonstrate the efficacy of this process through the patterning of anti-lysozyme, anti-Norwalk virus, and anti-Escherichia coli antibodies and the subsequent detection of each of their targets by the enzyme-mediated formation of colored or silver deposits, and also by binding of gold nanoparticles. The process allows for the patterning of three-dimensional structures by inclining the sample relative to the beam so that the shadowed regions remain unaltered. We demonstrate that the resolution of the patterning process is of the order of hundreds of nanometers, and that the approach is well-suited for high throughput patterning.
Direction of arrival estimation utilizing incident angle dependent spectra

Inspired by monaural (one ear) sound localization ability of human auditory system, a novel direction of arrival (DoA) technique for pulse based broadband microwave signals is proposed. A microstrip leaky wave antenna as the receiving component is designed and then fabricated with good matching and reasonable radiation efficiency in the interested frequency range. By exploiting the incident angle dependent frequency response of the receiving antenna, the DoA of a broadband microwave signal can be estimated with high accuracy. Good DoA performance within 90° range of the proposed technique is demonstrated in both simulation and experiment.
Tuning the Optical Properties of Large Gold Nanoparticle Arrays

Gold nanoparticles in the mid-nanometer size regime can undergo self-organization into densely packed monoparticulate films at the air-water interface under appropriate passivation conditions. Films could be transferred onto hydrophilic Formvar-coated Cu grids by horizontal (Langmuir-Schaefer) deposition or by vertical retraction of immersed substrates. The latter method produced monoparticulate films with variable extinction and reflectance properties. Transmission electron microscopy revealed hexagonally close-packed arrays on the micron length scale. The extinction bands of these arrays shifted by hundreds of nanometers to near-infrared wavelengths and broadened enormously with increasing periodicity. Large particle arrays also demonstrated extremely high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), with enhancement factors greater than 107. Signal enhancements could be correlated with increasing periodicity and are in accord with earlier theoretical and experimental investigations involving nanoparticle aggregate structures.
True Colors: Police Officers and Rape Myth Acceptance:

Institutionally, significant advancements in rape law reform have occurred. Culturally, police officers sometimes fail to adopt these changes. A survey designed to assess acceptance of rape myths was administered to 891 police officers in two southeastern states. The study found that the majority of police officers view the overall crime of rape as a serious one, however, approximately 6% provided sexist feedback that supports rape myths. These findings indicate that more work is needed in altering the attitudes of police officers.
Comment on “Commitment vs. Flexibility”

This comment corrects two results in the 2006 Econometrica paper by Amador, Werning, and Angeletos (AWA), that features a model in which individuals face a trade-off between flexibility and commitment. First, in contrast to Proposition 1 in AWA, we show that money-burning can be part of the ex ante optimal contract when there are two states. Second, in contrast to Proposition 2 in AWA, we show that money-burning can be imposed at the top (in the highest liquidity shock state), even when there is a continuum of states. We provide corrected versions of the above results. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and transforming activity of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in rat tracheal epithelial cells.

The causal relation between tobacco consumption and human cancer has been recognized for more than 50 years and NNK was considered to be the most potent carcinogenic tobacco specific nitrosamine. In present studies the cytotoxic, genotoxic and transforming effects of NNK in vivo and in vitro in rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells were investigated by the assays of colony forming efficiency (CFE), micronuclei formation (MN) and cell transformation frequency (TF).
Direct and Indirect Effects of Newlywed Couples' Neuroticism and Stressful Events on Marital Satisfaction Through Mutual Problem Solving

This investigation examined the role of neuroticism, stressful experiences, and mutual problem solving in newlywed couples' marital satisfaction. The vulnerability-stress-adaptation model of marital development was used as the basis of the proposed hypotheses. Dyadic analyses and tests of indirect effects were performed on data from 186 couples in the first 5 years of their marriage. Results indicate that husbands' and wives' work, job–home interference, and family stress were significantly associated with their own lower marital satisfaction. Significant partner effects further indicated that husbands' and wives' family stress was negatively associated with the marital satisfaction of their partner. Additionally, the relationships between (1) neuroticism and marital satisfaction and (2) stressful events and marital satisfaction can be partially explained by mutual problem solving for both husbands and wives. This study emphasizes the important role of problem-solving communication in newlywed couples' ex...
The Secondary Oxalosis of Renal Failure

Summary The secondary oxalosis syndrome associated with renal failure is an important, although incompletely understood, complication of renal insufficiency. The deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in vital organs can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology of this disorder relates to supersaturation of the blood with the insoluble calcium salt of oxalate. The factors which aggravate the hyperoxalemia in individuals with renal failure are only now becoming evident. Although no effective prevention or treatment exists in the chronic setting, further investigation into the role of dietary protein restriction, pyridoxine administration, and avoidance of ascorbic acid supplementation in patients without a documented deficiency of the vitamin is warranted.
Multiple Regions of the NG2 Proteoglycan Inhibit Neurite Growth and Induce Growth Cone Collapse

The NG2 chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, an integral membrane proteoglycan, inhibits axon growth from cerebellar granule neurons and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons in vitro. The extracellular domain of the NG2 core protein contains three subdomains: an N-terminal globular domain (domain 1), a central extended domain that has the sites for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) attachment (domain 2), and a juxtamembrane domain (domain 3). Here, we used domain-specific fusion proteins and antibodies to map the inhibitory activity within the NG2 core protein. Fusion proteins encoding domain 1 (D1-Fc) or domain 3 (D3-Fc) of NG2 inhibited axon growth from cerebellar granule neurons when the proteins were substrate-bound. These proteins also induced growth cone collapse from newborn DRG neurons when added to the culture medium. Domain 2 only inhibited axon growth when the GAG chains were present. Neutralizing antibodies directed against domain 1 or 3 blocked completely the inhibition from substrates coated with D1-Fc or D3-Fc. When the entire extracellular domain of NG2 was used as a substrate, however, both neutralizing antibodies were needed to reverse completely the inhibition. When NG2 was expressed on the surface of HEK293 cells, the neutralizing anti-D1 antibody was sufficient to block the inhibition, whereas the anti-D3 antibody had no effect. These results suggest that domains 1 and 3 of NG2 can inhibit neurite growth independently. These inhibitory domains may be differentially exposed depending on whether NG2 is presented as an integral membrane protein or as a secreted protein associated with the extracellular matrix.
Carbon consequences of global hydrologic change, 1948–2009

[1] Eddy covariance data (FLUXNET) provide key insights into how carbon and water fluxes covary with climate and ecosystem states. Here we merge FLUXNET data with reanalyzed evaporative fraction and dynamic land cover to create monthly global carbon flux anomalies attributable to hydrologic change from 1948 to 2009. Changes in land cover had a relative influence of <1% with an absolute effect less than uncertainty. The lack of trend globally in Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) attributable to hydroclimatic change masked positive trends in North America and Australia and negative trends in Africa and Asia. This spatial pattern coincided with geographic variation in hydroclimate excluding the temperature-limited high latitudes. Global NEP anomalies due to hydroclimatic variability ranged from −2.1 to +2.3 Pg C yr−1 relative to a global average sink of +2.8 Pg C yr−1. Trends in hydroclimate-induced NEP anomalies exceeded the background mean sink in many regions.
Assembly of protein tertiary structures from fragments with similar local sequences using simulated annealing and Bayesian scoring functions

We explore the ability of a simple simulated annealing procedure to assemble native-like structures from fragments of unrelated protein structures with similar local sequences using Bayesian scoring functions. Environment and residue pair specific contributions to the scoring functions appear as the first two terms in a series expansion for the residue probability distributions in the protein database; the decoupling of the distance and environment dependencies of the distributions resolves the major problems with current database-derived scoring functions noted by Thomas and Dill. The simulated annealing procedure rapidly and frequently generates native-like structures for small helical proteins and better than random structures for small b sheet containing proteins. Most of the simulated structures have native-like solvent accessibility and secondary structure patterns, and thus ensembles of these structures provide a particularly challenging set of decoys for evaluating scoring functions. We investigate the effects of multiple sequence information and different types of conformational constraints on the overall performance of the method, and the ability of a variety of recently developed scoring functions to recognize the native-like conformations in the ensembles of simulated structures. # 1997 Academic Press Limited
The strength of genetic interactions scales weakly with mutational effects

Background Genetic interactions pervade every aspect of biology, from evolutionary theory, where they determine the accessibility of evolutionary paths, to medicine, where they can contribute to complex genetic diseases. Until very recently, studies on epistatic interactions have been based on a handful of mutations, providing at best anecdotal evidence about the frequency and the typical strength of genetic interactions. In this study, we analyze a publicly available dataset that contains the growth rates of over five million double knockout mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Identification of Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate Crystals by X-ray Diffraction in Urine of Ethylene Glycol-Intoxicated Dogs

Urine sediments of dogs with experimentally induced ethylene glycol poisoning were examined by light microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Massive calcium oxalate crystalluria was observed in all poisoned dogs. By light microscopy, the frequency with which six-sided hippurate-like prisms and envelope forms of calcium oxalate dihydrate occurred was approximately equal. The hippurate-like crystals were shown to be calcium oxalate monohydrate by X-ray diffractometry.
Comparative Stability Analysis and Performance of Magnetic Controllers for Bias Momentum Satellites

This paper reexamines magnetic controllers for roll/yaw control of Earth-pointing bias momentum satellites in circular orbits using pitch dipoles. A general magnetic controller employs three gains, first for controlling precession, second for damping nutations, and third for stiffening the roll/yaw motion directly, using attitude angles and rates for feedback. For an orbit-averaged magnetic field, dependence on these gains of the closed-loop roots associated with precession and nutation and their damping coefficients is investigated via eigenanalysis and root loci. Stability inequalities constraining the three gains are developed by applying Routh-Hurwitz criteria, and the stability boundaries so obtained are spot checked with Floquet theory. The stability and performance of a three-gain controller is compared with that of 1) the classical A/t x B controller and 2) controllers having zero stiffness gain with or without yaw feedback for precession. Faster transient performance and improved pointing accuracy attributed to yaw feedback and stiffness gain are clearly brought forth in this study. Simple formulas are developed to calculate the gains for desired precession rate and nutation damping coefficient.
Local Transformations via Cube Operations

Wislan is a language for describing computer hardware at the gate and functional levels of abstraction. After converting a WISLAN description to a gate table data structure, users interactively apply local transformations to that network to transform the gate network to a technology, meet technology limits, and optimize the network. A number of extensions to WISLAN and new, less-local transforms are reported. The transforms are made efficient via operations on array representations of switching functions. Conversion between gate table and array data structures is also efficient.
CATTLE GRAZING IN A NATIONAL FOREST GREATLY REDUCES NESTING SUCCESS IN A GROUND-NESTING SPARROW

Abstract Grazing of domestic livestock on public lands in the western United States is a major source of habitat destruction. I quantified nest success of ground-nesting Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) breeding in ponderosa pine forests and pine savanna in the Kaibab National Forest of northern Arizona. Comparison of results for areas grazed by cattle to results for immediately adjacent areas protected from grazing revealed that cattle grazing was associated with a dramatic (75%) reduction in nest success. Cattle grazing reduced vegetation cover over nests by an average of 41%, exposing the nest to more extreme climatic conditions as well as possibly making them more conspicuous to predators. El Pastoreo por Ganado Reduce Fuertemente el Exito de Nidificacion de Junco hyemalis en un Parque Forestal Nacional Resumen. El pastoreo por parte de ganado domestico en tierras publicas del oeste de los Estados Unidos es una de las principales fuentes de destruccion de habitat. Cuantifique el exito de nidificacion...
Nitric oxide modulates a calcium-activated potassium current in muscle cells from opossum esophagus

Nitric oxide mediates nerve-induced hyperpolarization of circular smooth muscle of the esophagus. Two mechanisms are proposed to explain this hyperpolarization: an increase in K+ current or a decrease in Cl- current. These studies test the hypothesis that nitric oxide increases a K+ current in esophageal smooth muscle. Three outward K+ currents are present in circular smooth muscle cells from the opossum esophagus. One current is a Ca(2+)-activated K+ current (IKCa2+). This current is inhibited by charybdotoxin. Whole cell currents were recorded from isolated opossum esophageal smooth muscle cells using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. These studies showed that IKCa2+ is activated at potentials more positive than -30 mV. Bath application of S-nitroso-L-cysteine increased IKCa2+ by 50% above control levels throughout the entire activation range of potentials. The enhanced current was reversible on washout. Either charybdotoxin, an inhibitor of IKCa2+, or (R)-p-8-(4-chloropenylthio)-guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, an inhibitor of protein kinase G, antagonized the increase in outward current induced by S-nitroso-L-cysteine. These data suggest that nitric oxide activates IKCa2+ via the guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-protein kinase G signal transduction pathway.
Flowtables: Program Skeletal Inversion for Defeat of Interprocedural Analysis with Unique Metamorphism

Obfuscation, in the most general sense, is widely applicable to intellectual property protection, software tamper resistance and cryptographic algorithms. We have created Flowtables, a LLVM-based obfuscator which aims to protect intellectual property, hardening programs against analysis by relocating the edges of the call graph to a different process. This process temporarily and minimally supplies edges back to the original program only at runtime. We call this transformation program skeletal inversion, and by effectively removing the call graph from a program, we defeat any interprocedural analyses. In addition, the newly externally malleable program skeleton enables unique metamorphism, with the beneficial property of arbitrarily complex functionality transformation.
Ngos in International Environmental Lawmaking: Theoretical Models

This paper, a revised version of which will appear in the Oxford Handbook of International Law (forthcoming 2007), attempts to distill major theoretical approaches to NGO participation in international law both generally and with specific application to international environmental law. The chapter extracts three models from the major academic work on the question: liberal, stakeholder, and post-national. The liberal model continues to center the state as the primary locus of decisionmaking authority, while allowing the indirect influence of NGOs on the shape of international decisions. Domestic, transnational, and institutionalist variants of the liberal model frame the relevant terrains of NGO activity differently, as bounded or not bounded by national borders, but always with states as the key target actors and ultimate repositories of power. Stakeholder and postnational models, by contrast, recognize independent NGO power, inside public international institutions under the former approach and outside public institutions altogether under the latter. All three models accurately describe a segment of NGO participation in international environmental lawmaking. Insofar as the Liberal model hews to a state-ordered worldview, it may lose traction as an explanatory framework for considering the place of NGOs going forward. Liberal models are at least implicitly offered as universal theories of global political ordering, which serve as the exclusive tool for understanding international politics. But Liberal theory is in fact ill-equipped to explain evolving new pathways of NGO participation. It is only as good as far as it goes, that is, in explaining how NGOs work through states to advance their agendas; otherwise, it is an approach in denial. Hence the value added of stakeholder and postnational models, which confront, explain, and justify novel forms of NGO participation, at the same time that they accept the fact of state-channeled influence. As those forms of participation ramify and entrench, the scholarly challenge will migrate correspondingly.
Pubertal development and regulation

Summary Puberty marks the end of childhood and is a period when individuals undergo physiological and psychological changes to achieve sexual maturation and fertility. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis controls puberty and reproduction and is tightly regulated by a complex network of excitatory and inhibitory factors. This axis is active in the embryonic and early postnatal stages of life and is subsequently restrained during childhood, and its reactivation culminates in puberty initiation. The mechanisms underlying this reactivation are not completely known. The age of puberty onset varies between individuals and the timing of puberty initiation is associated with several health outcomes in adult life. In this Series paper, we discuss pubertal markers, epidemiological trends of puberty initiation over time, and the mechanisms whereby genetic, metabolic, and other factors control secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone to determine initiation of puberty.
Real-World Persuasion From Virtual-World Campaigns How Transportation Into Virtual Worlds Moderates In-Game Influence

With the general public spending increasing amounts of time in virtual gaming worlds, it is relevant to explore social influence dynamics that can occur in virtual reality settings. Three studies tested the hypothesis that transportation into a virtual game heightens susceptibility to influence from in-game health communications. Study 1 participants played a first-person shooter game that had either landscape paintings or graphic anti-DUI (drive under the influence of alcohol) messages embedded in the background of scenes. Results indicated that, to the extent gamers were transported into the virtual experiences in the game, willingness to DUI was reduced by the presence of anti-DUI graphic messages. Study 2 explored potential mechanisms driving this effect and revealed evidence that transportation disrupts counter-arguing among individuals who might otherwise resist real-world influence attempts. Study 3 replicated Studies 1 and 2 findings but also pointed to a potential “boomerang effect” that can occu...
Spatiotemporal Focusing of Phase Compensation and Time Reversal in Ultrawideband Systems With Limited Rate Feedback

We investigate the performance of phase compensation (PC) and time reversal pre-equalizers in multipath indoor channels when a quantized version of the channel state information (CSI) is available at the transmitter side. We conduct a comprehensive experimental study to assess their spatial and temporal focusing as a function of the number of quantization levels over the frequency band of 2–12 GHz. To characterize multipath compression performance, root-mean-square (RMS) delay spread and peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) are calculated for different numbers of quantization levels. Bit error rate (BER) curves have been simulated for data rates in the range of 125–4000 Mb/s based on the measured channel responses. To assess spatial focusing, we investigate the decay of the received response peak power as we move away from the intended receiver. Our study suggests that for the same feedback rate, PC has considerably superior performance in suppressing multipath dispersions and focusing the transmitted energy at the intended receiver.
Copper and Nickel X-Ray K β 2 - and K β 5 -Emission Lines and K -Absorption Limits in Cu-Ni Alloys

The shapes of the Cu $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2,5}$ lines and Ni $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{5}$ lines from Cu-Ni alloys vary smoothly with composition. The trend with increasing percentage of the emitting atoms is always toward a flattening out of the peaks of the lines. To explain the observed shapes it has been proposed that the major effect of alloying is a loss of $3d$ band dipole radiation with increasing dilution of the emitting atom. The absorption limits, in contrast to the emission lines, show no influence of alloying. The Cu $K$ limit continues to look like that of pure Cu even when the emitting atom is almost completely surrounded by nickel nearest neighbors, and similarly no changes are observed in the nickel edges even down to 21 percent nickel.
Nonpolynomial entire solutions to σk equations

ABSTRACTFor 2k = n + 1, we exhibit nonpolynomial solutions to the Hessian equation on all of ℝn.
Simple Synthetic Media for the Growth of B. Coli and for Its Isolation from Water

The purpose of this research was first, to prepare a simple synthetic culture medium for the growth of B. coli, and second, to find a simple synthetic medium to be used in water analysis, which would favor the growth of B. coli and would inhibit the growth of the other organisms commonly present in water. The advantages of a synthetic medium are plain. As its chemical composition is exactly known it can be easily and quickly prepared, and can always be duplicated. Results obtained by its use are always uniform and comparable. By the use of such a medium some light may be thrown on bacterial metabolism.
A Response to Eshbal Ratzon, “Methodological Issues concerning the Astronomy of Qumran”

This article offers a brief response to a recent article by Eshbal Ratzon, in which she is critical of an article we published in DSD on the Aramaic Astronomical Book in 2014. Ratzon raised several methodological issues with respect to our essay. In this response we attempt to clarify the relationship of our paper to those issues.
Does Older Adults' Cognitive Function Disrupt the Malleability of Their Attitudes toward Outgroup Members?: An fMRI Investigation.

In the current study we examine how individual differences in older adults’ global cognitive function impacts the extent to which their attitudes toward stigmatized individuals are malleable. Because prior research has elucidated the neural processes that are involved in evaluating stigmatized individuals who are responsible or not responsible for their condition, a cognitive neuroscience approach may be well-suited to answer this question. In the current study, 36 older and 17 young adults underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while evaluating images of homeless people who were described as being responsible or not responsible for their condition. They also indicated how much pity they felt for each of the individuals in order to determine the extent to which their attitudes were malleable (e.g., more pity for not-responsible as compared to responsible individuals). Participants’ cognitive function and baseline measure of their attitudes toward stigmatized individuals (including homeless individuals) were assessed. Results revealed that although older adults’ attitudes were malleable, the extent to which this was true varied due to individual differences in their global cognitive function. Specifically, the difference in the magnitude of older adults’ self-reported pity for not-responsible as compared to responsible homeless individuals was predicted by their global cognitive function. Moreover, the difference in pity that older adults expressed toward not-responsible as compared to responsible homeless individuals was related to activity in the left insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (regions implicated in empathy). These results suggest that attitude malleability is affected by individual differences in global cognitive function.