cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonspecific interactions alter lipopolysaccharide patterns and protein mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels

In testing whether bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was a natural substrate for an esterase from the soil amebae Dictyostelium discoideum, we observed altered banding patterns of the LPS and changed protein mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels after incubation of LPS with the enzyme. The initial interpretation of these results was that the enzyme had removed ester-linked acyl chains from the LPS, leading to a change in its migration on gels. However, esterase inactivated by treatment with either dithiothreitol (DTT), heat, or SDS generated the same mobility shifts. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) also induced the same change in the electrophoretic pattern. We conclude that the altered LPS patterns and protein mobility on SDS gels were caused by nonspecifi c interactions between LPS and protein.
Retention and transport of silver nanoparticles in a ceramic porous medium used for point-of-use water treatment.

The retention and transport of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) through a ceramic porous medium used for point-of-use drinking water purification is investigated. Two general types of experiments were performed: (i) pulse injections of suspensions of Ag-NPs in aqueous MgSO4 solutions were applied to the ceramic medium, and effluent silver was quantified over time; (ii) Ag-NPs were applied directly to the porous medium during fabrication using a paint-on, dipping, or fire-in method, a synthetic, moderately hard water sample with monovalent and divalent inorganic ions was applied to the ceramic medium, and effluent silver was quantified over time. These latter experiments were performed to approximate real-world use of the filter medium. For experiments with Ag-NPs suspended in the inflow solution, the percentage of applied Ag-NPs retained in the ceramic porous medium ranged from about 13 to 100%. Ag-NP mobility decreased with increasing ionic strength for all cases and to a lesser extent with increasing nanop...
Intraperson Consistency in Financial Risk Tolerance Assessment: Temporal Stability, Relationship to Total Score, and Effect on Criterion-related Validity

Purpose In assessing financial risk tolerance it is common practice to compute an overall score but not the intraperson variability across test items (because the latter is believed to be just error variance). We analyzed (1) the stability of intraperson variability, (2) its correlation to the total score, (3) its moderating effect on validity coefficients, and (4) its relation to internal consistency reliability and test–retest reliability.
Submillimeter astronomy (heterodyne spectroscopy)

Some of the aspects of submillimeter-wave astronomy which are relevant to the field of heterodyne spectroscopy are reviewed. Most of the discussion concerns the dense interstellar medium where stars are forming, with some work presented on nearby galaxies. Extremely sensitive receivers, large accurate telescopes, and high-mountain, airborne, or space platforms are gradually being developed, so that information is steadily improving in quality and scope. Examples are given of line surveys of heavy molecule spectra, extending from millimeter wavelengths well into the submillimeter, of light molecule spectroscopy, and of atomic fine-structure spectroscopy. The importance of the spatial information on atomic and ionized carbon is discussed. The gas cooling process which allows clouds to collapse to form stars by means of the submillimeter line emission is discussed. Also covered are regions suffering shocks, photodissociation regions, and stellar outflow regions. Work on the submillimeter spectrum of nearby galaxies is briefly described. >
Soluble metals associated with residual oil fly ash increase morbidity and lung injury after bacterial infection in rats.

Inhalation of residual oil fly ash (ROFA) has been shown to impair lung defense mechanisms in laboratory animals and susceptible populations. Bioavailability of soluble transition metals has been shown to play a key role in lung injury caused by ROFA exposure. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of soluble metals on lung defense and injury in animals preexposed to ROFA followed by pulmonary challenge with a bacterial pathogen. ROFA was suspended in saline (ROFA-TOTAL), incubated overnight at 37 ˚ C, and separated by centrifugation into soluble (ROFA-SOL) and insoluble (ROFA-INSOL) fractions. A portion of the soluble sample was treated with the metal-binding resin Chelex for 24 h at 37 ˚ C. Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally dosed at d 0 with ROFA-TOTAL (1.0 mg/100 g body weight), ROFA-INSOL, ROFA-SOL, saline, saline + Chelex, or ROFA-SOL + Chelex. At d 3, 5 × 105 Listeria monocytogenes were intratracheally instilled into rats from each treatment group. At d 6, 8, and 10, left lungs wer...
Metabolic pools differ among ecologically diverse Drosophila species.

A B S T R A C T Studies of the genetic mechanisms underlying metabolic storage have focused on a few model organisms. Although very fruitful, these studies have not allowed for the examination of mechanisms across a phylogenetic spectrum. The exploration of natural patterns of metabolic pool size variation across species will help us to better understand the genetics of metabolic adaptation. We examined the metabolic pools size (triglyceride, glycogen and protein) at two ages in 12 Drosophilaspecies with distinctly different ecologies for which complete genome sequences (for 11 of the 12 species) are known. Overall, there were significant differences across species for all three pools, while age and sex appear to affect some metabolic pools more than others. After correcting for the phylogenetic relatedness of the species used, we observed no association between triglyceride and glycogen content. Although within species these two pools sometimes are correlated, at a larger phylogenetic scale control of triglyceride and glycogen contents may have been shaped independently by natural selection.
A Multistage Hybrid Constant Modulus Array With Constrained Adaptation for Correlated Sources

The multistage constant modulus (CM) array was previously proposed for capturing multiple received signals in a cochannel signal environment. It consists of a cascade of individual CM array stages combined with adaptive signal cancelers that remove the various signals captured across the stages. However, when the received signals are mutually correlated, the signals captured by the CM array stages are not completely canceled, and previous parallel extensions of the system do not guarantee that different signals will be captured across the stages. In this paper, we present a hybrid implementation of the multistage CM array for separating correlated signals where the canceler weights in the cascade structure provide estimates of the direction vectors of the captured signals. These estimates are then used in a parallel implementation of the linearly constrained CM (LCCM) array leading to the hybrid structure. Since the direction vectors are obtained directly from the canceler weights, the hybrid implementation does not require prior knowledge of the array response matrix and is independent of the type of antennas used in the receiver. The effect of a bias in the direction vector estimates for closely-spaced signals is analyzed, and the steady-state performance of the hybrid structure is compared to that of a conventional constrained implementation for correlated sources. Computer simulations for example cochannel scenarios are provided to illustrate various properties of the system. Mean-square-error (MSE) learning curves indicate that the proposed hybrid LCCM algorithm converges faster and has lower MSE than previous implementations
Physics of Viral Shells

We review the application of statistical mechanics, elasticity theory, and condensed matter physics to the assembly and maturation of viral capsids.
CONVECTIVE STABILITY OF GALAXY-CLUSTER PLASMAS

Recent studies suggest that active galactic nuclei and cosmic rays drive convection in galaxy-cluster plasmas and that convection heats cluster cores and regulates the plasma temperature profile. In this paper, we investigate the convective stability of the intracluster medium. Previous work has described how magnetic fields modify the convective stability criterion by causing heat to diffuse primarily along magnetic field lines. We extend earlier analyses by including cosmic rays and cosmic-ray diffusion. We consider an equilibrium in which the gravitational acceleration is in the --direction, the magnetic field is perpendicular to , and the magnetic pressure is much less than the thermal pressure. We use a local linear stability analysis to show that the convective stability criterion is nkBdT/dz + dpcr/dz > 0, where n, T, and pcr are the plasma particle density, temperature, and cosmic-ray pressure, respectively. We also present approximate solutions to the dispersion relation and describe the different waves and instabilities present in the plasma. Because the stability criterion differs markedly from the Schwarzschild criterion, galaxy-cluster plasmas can be convective even though the specific entropy increases outward.
A double blind comparison of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone and promethazine in the prophylaxis or palliation of chloroquine induced pruritus in malaria fever

Chloroquine (CQ) induces severe generalized itching in black patients with malaria fever, and in the treatment of rheumatological diseases, globally. We previously demonstrated that the CQ-induced pruritus may involve release of endogenous opioids or interaction with the mu-opiate receptors in rats. We tested the hypothesis that Naltrexone(N) a mu opiate antagonist, will prevent or palliate severe pruritus in patients with parasitologically proven malaria fever. In a double blind, randomized parallel group study, 6 patients each, with established CQ-pruritus history in malaria, received Naltrexone 100mg tablet once or promethazine [P] 25mg tablet, concurrently with full treatment with CQ [2.1 g over 3 days] for malaria fever. Pruritus intensity was self-assessed by a categorical scale of 0–4, or by a VAS score, at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of dosing. Malaria parasite density, [median 780 /ul - N, and 240/ul-P] Areas under the pruritus -intensity time curve was calculated for each patient. Both agents attenuated itching severity with no significant difference between treatments in the pruritus intensity or AUC by 2 way -repeated measures ANOVA[p= 0.66, F=0.19] but there was a significant time effect in pruritus intensity [p = 0.001, ANOVA df5 F=4.77]. One of six patients on N, and 2 of 6 on P, had total prevention of itching. Thus, N may be as efficacious in inhibiting CQ pruritus in malaria, and endogenous opiates/receptors contribute to CQ induced itching in humans. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P27–P27; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.101
A systematic investigation of feasible acoustic windows and the impact of myocardial anisotropy for in vivo human cardiac shear wave elastography

Recent advancement in cardiac shear wave elastography (SWE) using pulse-inversion harmonic imaging showed substantial improvement of shear wave motion detection and demonstrated feasibility of transthoracic measurement of human myocardial stiffness. This study aimed at systematically investigating the feasible echocardiographic views for cardiac SWE and the impact of myocardial anisotropy when measuring myocardial stiffness from different scan views transthoracically. Ten healthy volunteers were recruited and scanned three times on three different days. A cardiac SWE sequence with pulse-inversion harmonic imaging and time-aligned sequential tracking was used to measure quantitative myocardial stiffness in late diastole. Seven combinations of echocardiography views and left ventricular (LV) segments were found to be feasible for transthoracic cardiac SWE: basal interventricular septum (IVS) under parasternal short-axis and long-axis views; mid IVS under parasternal short-axis and long-axis views; anterior LV free wall under parasternal short-axis and long-axis views; and posterior LV free wall under parasternal short-axis view. On the same LV segment, the mean diastolic shear wave speed (SWS) measurements from the short-axis view were statistically different from the long-axis view: 1.82 vs. 1.29 m/s for basal IVS; 1.81 vs. 1.45 m/s for mid IVS; and 1.96 vs. 1.77 m/s for anterior LV free wall, indicating that myocardial anisotropy plays a significant role in cardiac SWE measurements. These results establish the preliminary normal range of myocardial SWS under different scan views and provide important guidance for future clinical studies using cardiac SWE.
Electrophoresis of Milk Proteins II. Some Effects of Methods of Preparation on the Electrophoretic Patterns of Whey Proteins

Paper I of this series (11) reported several small differences in the electrophoretic patterns of whey proteins prepared by two methods. These methods were first, a salt-acid procedure devised by Harland and Ashworth (6) and second, a new salt-lyophylized procedure. Both of these patterns were approximately similar to patterns reported by Smith (10) and Deutsch (3) using whey proteins separated from casein with acid or with rennet. Nitschmann and Lehmann (8) found that a-casein, normally a single component, when treated with rennet produced two electrophoretic peaks. Crystalline fl-lactoglobulin also has been reported to be electrophoretically homogeneous (1) at some pH values, but to contain three peaks at others (7). A more extensive electrophoretic comparison of whey proteins prepared by each of the above four methods seemed justified. A *pH of 6.8 is near the natural pH value of fresh milk. Values of 7.8, 6.8, 5.8 and 3.8, therefore, were chosen for this study. Areas, mobilities and isoelectric points all seemed useful bases for comparison. PROCEDURE To insure that any observed differences would be due to methods of preparation and not to differences in the starting milk, the four procedures were used simultaneously on portions of the same samples of milk. Pooled raw whole milk, cooled as soon as milked, was obtained from the Kansas State College Dairy within 3 to 4 hr. after milking. The cream was separated in a Sharples supercentrifuge. The preparations of whey proteins by the salt-acid method and the salt-lyophilized method were exactly as previously described (11). The acid whey and the rennet whey also were dialyzed, lyophilized and redialyzed in a manner similar to that used for the salt-lyophilized whey. For preparation of the acid whey, a procedure modified from Rowland (9) was used. Five hundred ml. of skimmilk were heated to 40 ° C. and placed in a rectangular fruit jar containing a motor stirrer. Fifty ml. of 10 per cent acetic acid were added dropwise, followed after 10-min. standing by 50 ml. of 1.0 N sodium acetate. The mixture then was cooled to about 5 ° C. and filtered after again standing for 2 hr. Eckles et al. (4) described a commercial method for rennet cheese which was
The dielectric constant of a folded protein.

The goal of this paper is to obtain a theoretical estimate of the dielectric constant of a folded protein. To this end, we develop a form of the Kirkwood–Frohlich dielectric theory that applies to polar solids and folded proteins. The resulting theory incorporates a factor expressing the degree to which dipolar groups are constrained within the material's structure, as well as a generalized form of Kirkwood's correlation factor. The theory is applied to a hypothetical isotropic protein composed of randomly oriented α-helices and having a number density of dipolar groups equal to that found in actual proteins. The factor of constraint and the generalized dipole correlation factor are calculated using normal mode analysis. Temperature factors are also computed by normal mode analysis and are in reasonable agreement with those found experimentally. The computed dielectric constant is low; the best estimate is that it falls between 2.5 and 4.
Source ship contamination removal in a broadband vertical array experiment

Use of adaptive noise cancellation techniques to remove tow-ship contamination from array element time series is described. A broadband beam pointing at the tow ship was formed and used as the reference input to a least-squares lattice adaptive noise canceller. Each hydrophone time series (in turn) was treated as the primary input. The contamination-free individual element signals then were beamformed. The results indicate removal of the contaminating tow ship signature while preserving the broadband transmission from the towed source. >
Therapist-mediated post-stroke rehabilitation using haptic/graphic error augmentation

Recent research has suggested that enhanced retraining for stroke patients using haptics (robotic forces) and graphics (visual display) to generate a practice environment that can artificially enhance error rather than reducing it, can stimulate new learning and foster accelerated recovery. We present an evaluation of early results of this novel post-stroke robotic-aided therapy trial that incorporates these ideas in a large VR system and simultaneously employs the patient, the therapist, and the technology to accomplish effective therapy.
Wavelets For Sign Language Translation

Wavelet techniques are applied to help extract the relevant parameters of sign language from video images of a person communicating in American Sign Language or Signed English. The compression and edge detection features of two-dimensional wavelet analysis are exploited to enhance the algorithms under development to classify the hand motion, hand location with respect to the body, and handshape. These three parameters have different processing requirements and complexity issues. The results are described for applying various quadrature mirror filter designs to a filterbank implementation of the desired wavelet transform. The overall project is to develop a system that will translate sign language to English to facilitate communication between deaf and hearing people.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Adaptive control of PDES

Abstract This paper presents several recently developed techniques for adaptive control of PDE systems. Three different design methods are employed—the Lyapunov design, the passivity-based design, and the swapping design. The basic ideas for each design are introduced through benchmark plants with constant unknown coefficients. It is then shown how to extend the designs to reaction-advection-diffusion PDEs in 2D. Finally, the PDEs with unknown spatially varying coefficients and with boundary sensing are considered, making the adaptive designs applicable to PDE systems with an infinite relative degree, infinitely many unknown parameters, and open loop unstable.
Highly transitive representations of free groups and free products

A permutation group is highly transitive if it is n –transitive for every positive integer n . A group G of order-preserving permutations of the rational line Q is highly order-transitive if for every α 1 α n and β 1 β n in Q there exists g ∈ G such that α ig = β i , i = 1, …, n . The free group F n (2 ≤ η ≤ א o ) can be faithfully represented as a highly order-transitive group of order-preserving permutations of Q, and also (reproving a theorem of McDonough) as a highly transitive group on the natural numbers N. If G and H are nontrivial countable groups having faithful representations as groups of order-preserving permutations of Q, then their free product G * H has such a representation which in addition is highly order-transitive. If G and H are nontrivial finite or countable groups and if H has an element of infinite order, then G * H can be faithfully represented as a highly transitive group on N. Some of the representations of F η on Q can be extended to faithful representations of the free lattice-ordered group L η .
Eye tracking and visual attention to threating stimuli in veterans of the Iraq war

Theoretical and clinical characterizations of attention in PTSD acknowledge the possibility for both hypervigilance and avoidance of trauma-relevant stimuli. This study used eye tracking technology to investigate visual orientation and attention to traumatic and neutral stimuli in nineteen veterans of the Iraq war. Veterans saw slides in which half the screen had a negatively valenced image and half had a neutral image. Negatively valenced stimuli were further divided into stimuli that varied in trauma relevance (either Iraq war or civilian motor vehicle accidents). Veterans reporting relatively higher levels of PSTD symptoms had larger pupils to all negatively valenced pictures and spent more time looking at them than did veterans lower in PTSD symptoms. Veterans higher in PTSD symptoms also showed a trend towards looking first at Iraq images. The findings suggest that post-traumatic pathology is associated with vigilance rather than avoidance when visually processing negatively valenced and trauma-relevant stimuli.
A power-aware and QoS-aware service model on wireless networks

Many studies show that the wireless network interface (WNI) accounts for a significant part of the power consumed by mobile terminals. Thus, putting the WNI into sleep when it is idle is an effective technique to save power. To support streaming applications, existing techniques cannot put the WNI into sleep due to strict delay requirements. We present a novel power-aware and QoS-aware service model over wireless networks. In the proposed model, mobile terminals use proxies to buffer data so that the WNIs can sleep for a long time period. To achieve power-aware communication while satisfying the delay requirement of each flow, a scheduling scheme, called priority-based bulk scheduling (PBS), is designed to decide which flow should be served at which time. Through analysis, we prove that the PBS service model can provide delay assurance and achieve power efficiency. We use audio-on-demand and Web access as case studies to evaluate the performance of the PBS service model. Experimental results show that PBS achieves excellent QoS provision for each flow and significantly reduces the power consumption.
A Comparison of Buttermilks Made Using Fermentation, Direct Acidification, and a Combination of Both Methods

This study was to determine if modifications in the normal processing technique for cultured buttermilk could improve those characteristics associated with high quality and consistency. Buttermilk was made by direct acidification with lactic acid, conventional fermentation, and a combination method. The combination method involved reducing the pH of skim milk to 5.2 with lactic acid and then fermenting to pH 4.5. In half the cultured samples, .1% potassium sorbate was added following fermentation. All samples were stored at 4°C for 8 days and analyzed for various microbiological, chemical, and physical attributes. A consumer taste panel ranked selected samples by preference. The processing method generally had little influence on the microbiological or physical characteristics of the products. However, the concentrations of diacetyl and acetoin were generally higher in buttermilk samples that contained .1% potassium sorbate. The consumer panel was not able to distinguish between products prepared by conventional fermentation or the combination methods, but panel members who normally consumed buttermilk preferred samples without potassium sorbate. The combination acidification-fermentation technique could cut processing time and result in a more consistent product.
Tying up the loose ends: circular permutation decreases the proteolytic susceptibility of recombinant proteins

Recombinant proteins often suffer from poor expression because of proteolysis. Existing genetic engineering or fermentation strategies work for only a subset of cases where higher recombinant protein expression is needed. In this paper, we describe the use of circular permutation, wherein the original termini of a protein are concatenated and new termini are generated elsewhere with the sequence, as a general protein engineering strategy to produce full-length, active recombinant protein. We show that a circularly permuted variant of the thermosome (Group II chaperonin) from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii exhibited reduced proteolysis and increased expression in three different strains of Escherichia coli. Circular permutation of a different protein, TEM-1 beta-lactamase, by a similar method increased the expression lifetime of the protein in the periplasm of E. coli. Both circularly permuted proteins maintained activity near their wild-type counterparts and design criteria for selecting the sites for circular permutation are discussed. It is expected that this method will find broad utility for enhanced expression of recombinant proteins when proteolysis is a factor.
A multi-source label-correcting algorithm for the all-pairs shortest paths problem

The All-Pairs Shortest Paths (APSP) problem seeks the shortest path distances between all pairs of vertices, and is one of the most fundamental graph problems. In this paper, a fast algorithm with a small working space for the APSP problem on sparse graphs is presented, which first divides the vertices into sets of vertices with each set having a constant number of vertices and then solves the multi-source shortest paths (MSSP) problem for each set in parallel. For solving the MSSP problems, we give a multi-source label-correcting algorithm, as an extension of a label-correcting algorithm for the single-source shortest path problem. Our algorithm uses fewer operations on the priority queue than an implementation based on Dijkstra's algorithm. Our experiments showed that an implementation of our algorithm with SIMD instructions achieves an order of magnitude speedup for real-world geometric graphs compared to an implementation based on Dijkstra's algorithm.
Interfragmentary surface area as an index of comminution severity in cortical bone impact

A monotonic relationship is expected between energy absorption and fracture surface area generation for brittle solids, based on fracture mechanics principles. It was hypothesized that this relationship is demonstrable in bone, to the point that on a continuous scale, comminuted fractures created with specific levels of energy delivery could be discriminated from one another. Using bovine cortical bone segments in conjunction with digital image analysis of CT fracture data, the surface area freed by controlled impact fracture events was measured. The results demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) difference in measured de novo surface area between three specimen groups, over a range of input energies from 0.423 to 0.702 J/g. Local material properties were also incorporated into these measurements via CT Hounsfield intensities. This study confirms that comminution severity of bone fractures can indeed be measured on a continuous scale, based on energy absorption. This lays a foundation for similar assessments in human injuries.
Susceptibility of a North American Culex quinquefasciatus to Japanese Encephalitis Virus.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a flavivirus that is transmitted by Culex (Cx.) tritaeniorhynchus in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. The endemic transmission cycle involves domestic pigs and avian species that serve as amplification hosts; humans are incidental hosts that cannot develop a high-titer viremia sufficient for mosquito infection. Although vaccination can be an effective strategy for disease prevention and is used extensively in multiple Asian countries, unvaccinated immunologically naive human populations can suffer from severe neurological sequelae. The potential introduction of JEV into North America would be a major threat to human and animal health. In this study, field-collected Cx. quinquefasciatus from Valdosta, Georgia, were tested for their susceptibility to JEV and their potential to develop a disseminated infection via per os infection. These results demonstrate that North American Cx. quinquefasciatus are susceptible to JEV infection and subsequent dissemination at 14 days post infection (d.p.i.). Detection of viral RNA in saliva from infected mosquitoes also indicates competent vectors for JEV can be found in North America.
Course Content and Attitudes Toward Instructional Multimedia Use in Nursery Management and Production Courses in the United States

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. virtual, online, distance education, web-based, field trips, technology, video SUMMARY. An online survey was conducted to gain information about nursery management and production (NMP) course content and enrollment, attitudes regarding the use of multimedia resources in the classroom, and opinions about the use of virtual field trips to supplement or replace traditional field trips. Results reflected current organizational and curriculum changes within colleges of agriculture that have impacted traditional horticulture courses such as NMP and in many cases have resulted in the merging of NMP courses with other courses such as greenhouse or garden center management. The number of departments with ‘‘horticulture’’ in the department name was similar to the number of departments with ‘‘plant science’’ in the department name (and not ‘‘horticulture’’). The five topics covered most frequently included container production, container substrates, fertility, field production, and pot-in-pot production. Most of the respondents indicated that the NMP course in their department included at least one field trip. The top criteria used for selecting field trip locations included type of nursery, distance, innovation, reputation, and the number of aspects that could be viewed. Accessibility and distance to nurseries were listed as primary limitations for providing comprehensive field trips. Most respondents currently use multimedia resources in courses other than NMP, and a majority of respondents indicated that multimedia resources such as DVDs or web-based videos would be valuable for supplementing instruction in NMP, particularly for aspects not observed during field trips.
Drug-Receptor Interactions

Drugs, transmitters and hormones produce changes in cells by binding to transducer proteins called receptors. In this record, we describe the four main families of receptors and how drugs produce their effects by activating or blocking these proteins. We present the concepts of affinity and efficacy and how they relate to agonist and antagonist activity of drugs.
Evaluation of a self-normalization method for two PET cameras using prompt, delay or total emission data

For PET cameras the non-uniformity of the sensitivity of the lines of response (LORs) has to be corrected with appropriate normalization coefficients (NCs) in order to generate artifact-free quantitative images. The NCs are commonly estimated by dedicated calibration scan in which the scanner performance is measured for a known activity source. With the conventional normalization methods, proper handling of rate dependency of the NCs is not an easy task. To have the best results, the scanning conditions for the normalization scan and object scan should be similar. So, it would be ideal to calculate the NCs from the emission data itself (self-normalization). The self-normalization method would also eliminate the need for extra normalization scans. In this work, we report on evaluation of a new self-normalization method for two high-resolution cameras: a small animal PET camera and a whole-body PET camera. Several phantoms and mice were scanned. For calculation of crystals efficiencies, for each scan, we used three sets of data and compared them: prompt window data, delay window data and sum of the data in both windows (total). The tested self-normalization method generated artifacts free images. For both cameras, we did not observe any significant differences between the images obtained from data corrected with NCs generated from only prompt data, or random data, or all the data. Currently, we are using all the emission data, for better statistics, in calculations of NCs.
Fundamental Aspects of Energetic Collisions Between Clusters of Atoms and Metal Surfaces

The collision dynamics of Cu, Ni or Al clusters containing 92 atoms with substrates of these same metals were studied using molecular dynamics computer simulations. For energies of 1.0 keV or 326 eV, diverse behavior was observed, depending sensitively on the relative properties of the cluster and substrate. For Cu clusters impacting Cu substrates, the cluster plastically deforms the substrate and creates a deep crater with substrate atoms forming a ridge at the periphery of the crater. In contrast, Al clusters do not much deform Ni substrates, but rather tend to spread epitaxially over the surface. Several Al atoms dissociate from the cluster, and either reflect into the vacuum or scatter over the surface. 326 eV Ni clusters embed themselves almost completely within Al substrates and form localized amorphous zones.
Duration of CS termination delay in avoidance extinction following partial and continuous reinforcement

Mongolian gerbils received either continuous or partial (50%) reinforcement in acquisition of a shuttle avoidance response (Ra). In extinction, separate groups received CS termination at one of three delay intervals, 0, 5, or 10 sec, combined with shock omission. Removal of prompt CS offset produced rapid extinction of the Ra for both partial and continuous reinforcement animals. However, partially reinforced gerbils subjected to 5-sec delayed CS offset demonstrated a precipitous loss in Ra strength relative to their continuously reinforced counterparts. These results were discussed in terms of the interaction between the efficacy of the CS termination contingency in extinction and acquisition reinforcement schedule.
Pulsed Laser Deposition of High Tc Superconducting Thin Films: Deposition Physics and in-Situ Processing

The pulsed laser evaporation (PLE) technique for deposition of thin films is characterized by a number of unique properties. Based on the experimental characteristics, a theoretical model is developed which considers the formation and anisotropic three dimensional expansion of the laser generated plasma. This model explains most of the experimental features observed in PLE. We have also employed the PLE technique for in-situ fabrication of YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting thin films on different substrates in the temperature range of 500–650°C. At temperatures below 600–C, a biased interposing ring between the substrate and the target was found to significantly improve the superconducting properties. The minimum ion channeling yields were between 3-3.5 % for films deposited on (100) SrTiO3 and (100) LaA1O3 substrates. The films exhibit very high critical current densities (Jc) with maximum values exceeding 6.5 x 106 amps/cm2 for silver doped YBa2Cu3O7 films on (100) LaA1O3 substrates, and the Jc also varies anisotropically with the magnetic field.
Two new species of crabs, Notopocorystes (Eucorystes) eichhorni and Zygastrocarcinus griesi (Decapoda; Brachyura) from the Bearpaw Shale (Campanian) of north-central Montana

Two new brachyuran decapod crustacean taxa are described from specimens collected in the Upper Cretaceous Bearpaw Shale of north-central Montana. The ammonite Didymoceras nebrascense dates the fauna as late Campanian. Zygastrocarcinus griesi is the second species-level taxon of the genus Zygastrocarcinus (n. gen.) to be described from the Western Interior. Notopocorystes (Eucorystes) eichhorni is the first species of this genus to be described from the Western Interior and extends the geographic range of the genus into the Western Interior.--Journal abstract.
From ignimbrite to batholith, northeastern San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Bonanza, Cochetopa Park, and North Pass calderas

The Southern Rocky Mountain volcanic fi eld contains widespread andesite and dacitic lavas erupted from central volcanoes; associated with these are ~26 regional ignimbrites (each 150–5000 km3) emplaced from 37 to 23 Ma, source calderas as much as 75 km across, and subvolcanic plutons. Exposed plutons vary in composition and size from small roof-zone exposures of porphyritic andesite and dacite to batholithscale granitoids. Calderas and plutons are enclosed by one of the largest-amplitude gravity lows in North America. The gravity low, interpreted as defi ning the extent of a largely concealed low-density silicic batholith complex, encloses the overall area of ignimbrite calderas, most of which lack individual geophysical expression. Initial ignimbrite eruptions from calderas aligned along the Sawatch Range at 37–34 Ma progressed southwestward, culminating in peak eruptions in the San Juan Mountains at 30–27 Ma. This fi eld guide focuses on diverse features of previously little-studied ignimbrites and caldera sources in the northeastern San Juan region, which record critical temporal and compositional transitions in this distinctive eastern Cordilleran example of Andean-type continental-margin volcanism.
RNA-Seq reveals changes in the Staphylococcus aureus transcriptome following blue light illumination.

In an effort to better understand the mechanism by which blue light inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in culture, a whole transcriptome analysis of S. aureus isolate BUSA2288 was performed using RNA-Seq to analyze the differential gene expression in response to blue light exposure. RNA was extracted from S. aureus cultures pooled from 24 1 ml well samples that were each illuminated with a dose of 250 J/cm2 of 465 nm blue light and from control cultures grown in the dark. Complementary DNA libraries were generated from enriched mRNA samples and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq Next Generation Sequencer. Here we report one type of analysis that identified 32 candidate genes for further investigation. Blue light has been shown to be bactericidal against S. aureus and is a potential alternative therapy for antibiotic resistant organisms. The mechanism for the inactivation of bacteria is hypothesized to involve reactive oxygen species. These RNA-Seq results provide data that may be used to test this hypothesis. The RNA-Seq data generated by these experiments is deposited in Gene Expression Omnibus (Gene accession {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE62055","term_id":"62055"}}GSE62055) and may be found at NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc={"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE62055","term_id":"62055"}}GSE62055).
J. L. Moreno: The Origins of the Group Encounter Movement and the Forerunner of Web-Based Social Network Media Revolution

The purpose of this article is to (a) acknowledge Moreno's merits as the founder of the Group Encounter Movement; (b) review a few ambiguities, contradictions, and backbiting that were evident in the Group Encounter Movement; (c) to identify Moreno as a pioneer in grounding and setting the stage for group psychology and group psychotherapy as an evidence-based therapy; and (d) pinpoint and recognize Moreno as the forerunner of our web-based social network media in virtual communities. Moreno joins the long, illustrious line of psychiatrists, psychologists, and group psychotherapists whose work continues to have an impact long after they have departed this world.
Plasma electron hole kinematics. I. Momentum conservation

We analyse the kinematic properties of a plasma electron hole: a non-linear self-sustained localized positive electric potential perturbation, trapping electrons, which behaves as a coherent entity. When a hole accelerates or grows in depth, ion and electron plasma momentum is changed both within the hole and outside, by an energization process we call jetting. We present a comprehensive analytic calculation of the momentum changes of an isolated general one-dimensional hole. The conservation of the total momentum gives the hole's kinematics, determining its velocity evolution. Our results explain many features of the behavior of hole speed observed in numerical simulations, including self-acceleration at formation, and hole pushing and trapping by ion streams.
Cyclic ADP-ribose signaling in sea urchin gametes: metabolism in spermatozoa

The molecular mechanism that initiates Ca2+ signaling in sea urchin egg fertilization has not yet been clarified. To determine whether sea urchin sperm may generate and possibly supply cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) as a Ca2+-releasing factor in the course of sea urchin egg fertilization, we determined cADPR content and the capacity for cADPR synthesis in sea urchin sperm. cADPR content was determined using the sea urchin egg homogenate Ca2+-release bioassay combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We found that sperm homogenates synthesized cADPR from beta-NAD but did not synthesize cADPR when alpha-NAD was the substrate. The identity of cADPR generated by sperm homogenates was verified by HPLC analysis, use of specific Ca2+-release antagonists, and homologous desensitization of the sea urchin egg homogenate Ca2+-release bioassay. The ambient content of cADPR was approximately 0.3 nmol cADPR/g wet wt sea urchin sperm. Our results show that sperm can synthesize cADPR and that they contain cADPR levels comparable to other tissues.
Building Fresh Tax-Advantaged Investment Strategies with ETFs

Chapter 3 reviewed the mechanics underlying the tax advantage of passively managed equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs), noting that this benefit derives from their unique creation and redemption process. This process gives them a clear advantage over mutual funds, which must sell securities to meet redemptions, paid in cash to departing investors, and therefore trigger large capital gains distributions that are passed through to the remaining investors. ETF holders are sheltered from this risk, because the fund has no need to sell any of the shares comprising the underlying portfolio, due to the in-kind redemption clause.
White matter hyperintensity lesion burden is associated with the infarct volume and 90-day outcome in small subcortical infarcts.

Objectives Small subcortical infarcts (SSI) frequently coexist with brain white matter hyperintensity (WMH) lesions. We sought to determine whether preexisting WMH burden relates to SSI volume, SSI etiology, and 90-day functional outcome. Materials and methods We retrospectively studied 80 consecutive patients with acute SSI. Infarct volume was determined on diffusion weighted imaging, and WMH burden was graded on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences according to the Fazekas scale. SSI etiology was categorized as small vessel disease (SVD) vs non-SVD related. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were constructed to determine whether WMH burden was independently associated with the SSI volume and a poor 90-day outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] score >2), respectively. Results In unadjusted analyses, patients with non-SVD-related SSI were older (P=.002) and more frequently had multiple infarcts (P .1) was independently associated with the SSI volume. On multivariable logistic regression, worse WMH (OR 2.28; 95%-CI 1.04–4.99; P=.040), SSI etiology (OR 9.20; 95%-CI 1.04–81.39; P=.046), preadmission mRS (OR 8.96; 95%-CI 2.65–30.27; P<.001), and SSI volume (OR 1.98; 95%-CI 1.14–3.44; P=.016) were associated with a poor 90-day outcome. Conclusions Greater WMH burden is independently associated with a larger SSI volume and a worse 90-day outcome.
Process improvement for the safe delivery of multidisciplinary-executed treatments—A case in Y-90 microspheres therapy

Abstract Purpose To develop a safe and robust workflow for yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization procedures in a multidisciplinary team environment. Methods and Materials A generalized Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC)–based approach to process improvement was applied to a Y-90 radioembolization workflow. In the first DMAIC cycle, events with the Y-90 workflow were defined and analyzed. To improve the workflow, a web-based interactive electronic white board (EWB) system was adopted as the central communication platform and information processing hub. The EWB-based Y-90 workflow then underwent a second DMAIC cycle. Out of 245 treatments, three misses that went undetected until treatment initiation were recorded over a period of 21 months, and root-cause-analysis was performed to determine causes of each incident and opportunities for improvement. The EWB-based Y-90 process was further improved via new rules to define reliable sources of information as inputs into the planning process, as well as new check points to ensure this information was communicated correctly throughout the process flow. Results After implementation of the revised EWB-based Y-90 workflow, after two DMAIC-like cycles, there were zero misses out of 153 patient treatments in 1 year. Conclusions The DMAIC-based approach adopted here allowed the iterative development of a robust workflow to achieve an adaptable, event-minimizing planning process despite a complex setting which requires the participation of multiple teams for Y-90 microspheres therapy. Implementation of such a workflow using the EWB or similar platform with a DMAIC-based process improvement approach could be expanded to other treatment procedures, especially those requiring multidisciplinary management.
Convolutidae (Acoela) from Belize

Convolutidae from shallow marine sediments, including six new species from Belize are described: Amphiscolops blumi sp. nov., Conaperta antonii sp. nov., Conaperta cirrata sp. nov., Convoluta lacrimosa sp. nov., Picola caribbea sp. nov., Polychoerus ebenhochi sp. nov.. A species from North Carolina previously identified as Polychoerus caudatus is herein described as new species, Polychoerus parvus sp. nov. The species Pseudohaplogonaria sutcliffei (Haploposthiidae) is reassigned to the genus Convoluta.
Proportion of Available Points Predicts Student Attendance in College Courses

One intervention used to increase attendance at collegiate class meetings is to provide points for activities that take place in class; however, the percentage of course points necessary to facilitate high attendance is unknown. In Experiment 1, we assessed the relation between the relative percentage of points available for in-class activities and student attendance across three psychology courses. Across all three courses, students were more likely to attend on class days when higher percentages of course points were available for in-class activities. In Experiment 2, we replicated our findings from Experiment 1 while assessing the relation between the absolute value of points available and student attendance across two additional psychology courses. The results of Experiment 2 show that the absolute number of points available influenced attendance less than the relative value of course points available for in-class activities. Our findings suggest that instructors should consider the relative value of points available on class days when attempting to design course activities to maximize attendance.