cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coulomb Wave Functions in the Transition Region

Expansions, involving the Airy integrals, of the functions ${F}_{L}(\ensuremath{\eta}, \ensuremath{\rho})$, ${G}_{L}(\ensuremath{\eta}, \ensuremath{\rho})$ are obtained from a study of the Coulomb wave equation. These expansions are convergent in the region $|\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{1}|l{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{1}$, where ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{1}=\ensuremath{\eta}+{[{\ensuremath{\eta}}^{2}+L(L+1)]}^{\frac{1}{2}}.$
Barriers to ambulatory EHR: who are 'imminent adopters' and how do they differ from other physicians?

Objective Despite existing knowledge regarding electronic health record (EHR) barriers in the ambulatory setting, little is known, specifically, about physicians who are likely to adopt EHR imminently. The current study identifies these imminent adopters and compares their barriers to other physicians. Design and measurements Mail survey of Florida physicians (n=14 921) about barriers to EHR and adoption intentions. The survey asked respondents to classify themselves as planning to adopt an EHR system within one year (herein referred to as ‘imminent adopters’), as planning to adopt an EHR system but not within one year (‘interested adopters’), and as not considering an EHR system. Chi-square analysis and logistic regression models were used to identify trends among imminent adopters and to compare barriers among respondents in each of the adoption categories above. Results A total of 4203 returned surveys represented a 28.2% response rate. Imminent adopters were significantly less likely to be in solo practice (19.6% vs. 40.0%, P<0.001) and more likely to be in an urban area (P=0.044) or in a multi-specialty practice (P=0.023). Imminent adopters were also more likely to be practising family medicine (P=0.014) or obstetrics/gynaecology (P=0.038). When compared with their colleagues, imminent adopters perceived EHR barriers very differently. For example, imminent adopters were significantly less likely to consider upfront cost of hardware/software [OR=0.35 (0.30, 0.45)] or that an inadequate return on investment [OR=0.25 (0.19, 0.34)] was a major barrier to EHR. Moreover, imminent adopters differed from their colleagues with respect to numerous other productivity-related and technical-related barriers. Conclusion Policy and decision makers interested in promoting the adoption of EHR among physicians should focus on the needs and barriers of those most likely to adopt EHR. Given that imminent adopters differ considerably from their peers, current EHR incentive programmes that focus on financial barriers only might prove sub-optimal in achieving immediate widespread EHR adoption.
Education above and beyond: innovative STS educational initiatives.

Education has always been a driving force for The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and when one thinks of STS education, it may be the flagship Annual Meeting that initially comes to mind. This chapter focuses on specific educational activities, outside of core Annual Meeting sessions, that STS introduced based on its objective “to promote the professional and educational development of those surgeons specializing in the field of thoracic surgery.” The history of the STS Annual Meeting (see Chapter 3) highlights seminal presentations and groundbreaking research that have had important implications for the practice of cardiothoracic surgery. But STS education is far broader than just the Annual Meeting. Surgeon leaders, supported by the STS staff, strive tirelessly to find new, innovative, and meaningful educational activities that continue the STS tradition of helping cardiothoracic surgeons serve patients better.
A FINE-STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE FUSION OF MYOGENIC CELLS

The fusion of myogenic cells has been examined on the fine-structural level in muscle cell cultures of embryonic Japanese Coturnix quail. Cells, selected by light microscopy, were serially sectioned normal to their long axis. In this plane, oblique sections of cell membranes are rare and plasmalemmal profiles are more easily traced between adjacent cells. In seven cases, pairs of cells, apparently fixed in the process of fusion, are joined by a single cytoplasmic bridge. Since obliquely sectioned membranes often suggest cytoplasmic confluence, tilting stage analysis was employed to resolve cell membranes in suspect cases. In contrast to such artifacts of superposition, however, the observed intercommunicating pores are contained within a pair of culs-de-sac formed by the fused membranes of both cells. These blind pouches can be traced back between the cells to the external space. The confluent regions are clearly demarcated and they are not simply areas between vesicular profiles. The results of this analysis suggest that ( a ) at no time is there any loss of integrity of the cellular envelope, and ( b ) fusion is most probably initiated at single sites between pairs of cells, the pore enlarging, leaving first vestiges and eventually no trace of the original intervening membranes.
American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 and risk of venous thromboembolism: the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

Background The American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 metric is being used to track the population's cardiovascular health (CVH) toward a 2020 goal for improvement. The metric includes body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, physical activity (PA), cigarette smoking, and diet. We hypothesized a lower risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with favorable Life's Simple 7 scores. Methods and Results REGARDS recruited 30 239 black and white participants ≥45 years of age across the United States in 2003–2007. A 14‐point summary score for Life's Simple 7 classified participants into inadequate (0 to 4 points), average (5 to 9 points), and optimal (10 to 14 points) categories. Hazard ratios (HRs) of incident VTE were calculated for these categories, adjusting for age, sex, race, income, education, and region of residence. For comparison, HRs of VTE were calculated using the Framingham 10‐year coronary risk score. There were 263 incident VTE cases over 5.0 years of follow‐up; incidence rates per 1000 person‐years declined from 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3 to 3.7) among those in the inadequate category to 1.8 (95% CI, 1.4 to 2.4) in the optimal category. Compared to the inadequate category, participants in the average category had a 38% lower VTE risk (95% CI, 11 to 57) and participants in the optimal category had a 44% lower risk (95% CI, 18 to 62). The individual score components related to lower VTE risk were ideal PA and BMI. There was no association of Framingham Score with VTE. Conclusions Life's Simple 7, a CVH metric, was associated with reduced VTE risk. Findings suggest that efforts to improve the population's CVH may reduce VTE incidence.
Newton-Raphson and Related Algorithms for Maximum Likelihood Variance Component Estimation

Three general purpose algorithms for maximum likelihood estimation of mean and variance components in mixed analysis of variance models are discussed. These are the Newton-Raphson algorithm, the Fisher scoring algorithm, and the Hemmerle and Hartley algorithm. Derivations for the first two are given and a unified presentation of all three makes some theoretical and practical comparisons possible. In addition the results of applying all three to a sequence of five problems are presented. The W transform of Hemmerle and Hartley is used throughout to reduce the computational burden associated with maximum likelihood variance component algorithms. The algorithms provide a unified approach to estimation and testing in the general mixed analysis of variance model.
Retargetable static timing analysis for embedded software

This paper presents a novel approach for retargetable static software timing analysis. Specifically, we target the problem of determining bounds on the execution time of a program on modern processors, and solve this problem in a retargetable software development environment. Another contribution of this paper is the modeling of important features in contemporary architectures, such as branch prediction, predication, and instruction pre-fetching, which have great impact on system performance, and have been rarely handled thus far. These ideas allow to build a timing analysis tool that is efficient, accurate, modular and retargetable. We present preliminary results for sample embedded programs to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach.
Non-invasive functional mapping of the brain using cerebral oximeter

The goal of this study is to map brain functions using an in-vivo cerebral oximeter. The current tests for brain functions are invasive and associated with significant risks. We acquired the 2 channel (left & right) cerebral oximeter, which detects regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) levels on the frontal region of the brain using near-infrared spectroscopy techniques. The measurement is made via special electrodes placed over the scalp. These electrodes contain LEDs that pass low intensity near infrared light into both the skull and brain. The electrodes also contain a photodiode that measures and records the returning scattered and partially absorbed light. The intensity of this recorded light and the amount absorbed in a particular frequency band reflects the proportion of oxyhemoglobin present within the light pathway. In this study we add multi-channel capabilities to the system so it can measure rSO2 levels around all the brain regions, and display the results in a user-friendly graphical interface.
The Development of Episodic Memory Items, Contexts, and Relations

Episodic memory involves the formation of relational structures that bind information about the stimuli people experience to the contexts in which they experience them. The ability to form and retain such structures may be at the core of the development of episodic memory. In the first experiment reported here, 4- and 7-year-olds were presented with paired-associate learning tasks requiring memory structures of different complexity. A multinomial-processing tree model was applied to estimate the use of different structures in the two age groups. The use of two-way list-context-to-target structures and three-way structures was found to increase between the ages of 4 and 7. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the ability to form increasingly complex relational memory structures develops between the ages of 4 and 7 years and that this development extends well into adulthood. These results have important implications for theories of memory development.
The NIF LinkOut Broker: A Web Resource to Facilitate Federated Data Integration using NCBI Identifiers

This paper describes the NIF LinkOut Broker (NLB) that has been built as part of the Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF) project. The NLB is designed to coordinate the assembly of links to neuroscience information items (e.g., experimental data, knowledge bases, and software tools) that are (1) accessible via the Web, and (2) related to entries in the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI’s) Entrez system. The NLB collects these links from each resource and passes them to the NCBI which incorporates them into its Entrez LinkOut service. In this way, an Entrez user looking at a specific Entrez entry can LinkOut directly to related neuroscience information. The information stored in the NLB can also be utilized in other ways. A second approach, which is operational on a pilot basis, is for the NLB Web server to create dynamically its own Web page of LinkOut links for each NCBI identifier in the NLB database. This approach can allow other resources (in addition to the NCBI Entrez) to LinkOut to related neuroscience information. The paper describes the current NLB system and discusses certain design issues that arose during its implementation.
Reverse Transcription of a Self-Primed Retrotransposon Requires an RNA Structure Similar to the U5-IR Stem-Loop of Retroviruses

An inverted repeat (IR) within the U5 region of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) mRNA forms a structure composed of a 7-bp stem and a 5-nucleotide (nt) loop. This U5-IR structure has been shown to be required for the initiation of reverse transcription. The mRNA of Tf1, long terminal repeat-containing retrotransposon from fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) contains nucleotides with the potential to form a U5-IR stem-loop that is strikingly similar to that of RSV. The putative U5-IR stem-loop of Tf1 consists of a 7-bp stem and a 25-nt loop. Results from mutagenesis studies indicate that the U5-IR stem-loop in the mRNA of Tf1 does form and that it is required for Tf1 transposition. Although the loop is required for transposition, we were surprised that the specific sequence of the nucleotides within the loop was unimportant for function. Additional investigation indicates that the loss of transposition activity due to a reduction in the loop size to 6 nt could be rescued by increasing the GC content of the stem. This result indicates that the large loop in the Tf1 mRNA relative to that of the RSV allows the formation of the relatively weak U5-IR stem. The levels of Tf1 proteins expressed and the amounts of Tf1 RNA packaged into the virus-like particles were not affected by mutations in the U5-IR structure. However, all of the mutations in the U5-IR structure that caused defects in transposition produced low amounts of reverse transcripts. A unique feature in the initiation of Tf1 reverse transcription is that, instead of a tRNA, the first 11 nt of the Tf1 mRNA serve as the minus-strand primer. Analysis of the 5' end of Tf1 mRNA revealed that the mutations in the U5-IR stem-loop that resulted in defects in reverse transcription caused a reduction in the cleavage activity required to generate the Tf1 primer. Our results indicate that the U5-IR stems of Tf1 and RSV are conserved in size, position, and function.
Examining the multifaceted notion of isomorphism in marriage and family therapy supervision: a quest for conceptual clarity

The notion of isomorphism has been recommended as a conceptual framework to guide the practice of marriage and family therapy (MFT) supervision. The term is frequently cited in the MFT training literature but is often used in different ways. A panel of MFT supervisors rated the importance and relevance to both therapy and supervision of a large pool of variables. The majority of variables were found to be equally relevant or isomorphic to the domains of MFT and MFT supervision. A qualitative interview with a small subset of the panelists suggested that the concept, to varying degrees, has influenced their work as supervisors. The implications of the results for theory development, research and supervisory practice are discussed.
Subject-Matter Experts in Urban Schools: Journeys of Enacted Identities in Science and Mathematics Classrooms

This study explored how two mathematics/science subject-matter experts (Fellows) conceptualized urban classrooms and the students they worked with for a year, how they negotiated academic achievement with cultural and sociopolitical competence, and how their identities as educators were co-constructed and enacted. Using grounded theory, Fellows’ weekly journals were analyzed using Ladson-Billing’s three tenets of culturally relevant pedagogy. The Fellows’ journeys point to the formation and presence of a prevalent tenet in their identities as urban educators, to the difficulty of integrating all three tenets, and to the tensions that educators experience as they try to become sociopolitically critical.
Anisotropic Motion and Molecular Dynamics of Cholesterol, Lanosterol, and Ergosterol in Lecithin Bilayers Studied by Quasi-elastic Neutron Scattering†

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) was employed to study the molecular dynamics of three structurally related sterols, namely, cholesterol, lanosterol, and ergosterol. Oriented bilayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were investigated at 40 mol % sterol content and at three temperatures (20, 36, and 50 °C) for two energy resolutions. Data analysis was concentrated on a direct comparison of the out-of-plane and the in-plane high-frequency motions of the three sterols in terms of their rates and amplitudes. The (spatially restricted) diffusive motion of the three sterols in the two directions was characterized by diffusion constants in the range of (5−30) × 10-12 m2 s-1, with a significantly faster rate of diffusion along the membrane normal, resulting in a diffusional anisotropy, Da. At low temperature (20 °C), cholesterol showed the highest value (Da = 4.5), while lanosterol gave the lowest one (Da = 2.0). At high temperature (50 °C), ergosterol diffusion had the highest diffusion anisotrop...
The PPK-10 Mobile Cassette Dust Trap

Descriptions are given of the design and technical characteristics of a cassette dust trap.
Couple or Individual Therapy for the Treatment of Depression?: An Update of the Empirical Literature

Abstract Not only has couple therapy been found an effective treatment for depression, it may also have the advantage of improving marital functioning in addition to depressive symptoms, while individual therapy typically does not (Beach & O'Leary, 1992; Emnuels-Zuurveen & Emmelkamp, 1996; Jacobson et al., 1991; O'Leary & Beach, 1990; Teichman, Bar-El, Shor, & Elizur, 1998). This article attempts to identify indications for couple therapy or individual therapy for depression by examining the published randomized clinical trials comparing couple therapy and individual therapy for depression. Based on a review of the current research literature, suggestions for future research are provided.
Fast adaptive algorithms using eigenspace projections

Although adaptive gradient algorithms are relatively robust, they generally have poor performance in the absence of "rich" excitation. It is well known that the convergence speed of the LMS algorithm deteriorates when the condition number of the autocorrelation matrix of the input is large. This problem has been addressed using RLS, Weighted RLS (WRLS), as well as normalized frequency-domain algorithms. In this paper, we present an alternative approach that employs gradient projections in selected eigenvector subspaces to improve the convergence properties of LMS algorithms. We also use an auxiliary algorithm that iteratively updates selected eigensubspaces. The proposed algorithm is efficient in terms of complexity and its convergence speed approaches that of the WRLS for a certain class of excitation signals.
Highly reliable and efficient semiconductor wafer-bonded AlGaInP/GaP light-emitting diodes

Semiconductor wafer bonding is employed to fabricate very high efficiency transparent-substrate (TS) AlGaInP light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with projected lifetimes in excess of 100000 h under accelerated life test at an ambient temperature of 55/spl deg/C (70 A/cm/sup 2/). Furthermore, we demonstrate wafer-bonded TS AlGaInP red LEDs with external quantum efficiencies of 23.7% at 635.6 nm (20 mA, DC, 250/spl deg/C).
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Deficiency Protects the Heart From Systolic Overload–Induced Ventricular Hypertrophy and Congestive Heart Failure

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein is expressed in cardiac myocytes of patients and experimental animals with congestive heart failure (CHF). Here we show that iNOS expression plays a role in pressure overload-induced myocardial chamber dilation and hypertrophy. In wild-type mice, chronic transverse aortic constriction (TAC) resulted in myocardial iNOS expression, cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular dilation and dysfunction, and fibrosis, whereas iNOS-deficient mice displayed much less hypertrophy, dilation, fibrosis, and dysfunction. Consistent with these findings, TAC resulted in marked increases of myocardial atrial natriuretic peptide 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (a marker of lipid peroxidation) and nitrotyrosine (a marker for peroxynitrite) in wild-type mice but not in iNOS-deficient mice. In response to TAC, myocardial endothelial NO synthase and iNOS was expressed as both monomer and dimer in wild-type mice, and this was associated with increased reactive oxygen species production, suggesting that iNOS monomer was a source for the increased oxidative stress. Moreover, systolic overload-induced Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin, and ribosomal protein S6 activation was significantly attenuated in iNOS-deficient mice. Furthermore, selective iNOS inhibition with 1400W (6 mg/kg per hour) significantly attenuated TAC induced myocardial hypertrophy and pulmonary congestion. These data implicate iNOS in the maladaptative response to systolic overload and suggest that selective iNOS inhibition or attenuation of iNOS monomer content might be effective for treatment of systolic overload-induced cardiac dysfunction.
SCUBE: A DoS-Resistant Distributed Search Protocol

Many P2P-based storage systems use distributed indexing service for searching documents. There are two security issues when the nodes providing the index service are compromised by adversaries. First, the adversaries may delete the indexes or stop the program of indexing service, making the affected documents disappear in the search infrastructure. Second, the adversaries may leak the locations of the storage nodes hosting certain documents, making those nodes the target of DOS attacks. We propose a protocol called SCUBE which addresses these attacks by using secret-sharing based threshold cryptography and the concept of virtual addresses. Our results show that SCUBE performs appreciably well under different attack scenarios and incurs nominal overhead. A working prototype of SCUBE has also been implemented and tested on the Planetlab testbed.
Evaluating statistical learning methods for cell type classification and feature selection using RNA-seq data

Materials and methods We evaluated several statistical learning methods for classifying RNA-seq data using samples obtained from different brain regions as surrogates for single cell data. These include the ventral tegmental area (VTA, n=36), the nucleus accumbens core (AcbC, n=34) and shell (AcbS, n=30) [1]. We tested hierarchical clustering methods using different distance matrices (correlation, uncentered, abscor) and clustering algorithms. Multiscale bootstrap was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the clusters. We also tested the Bayesian Hierarchical Clustering method, which uses hypothesis testing to decide which cluster mergers increase the tree quality and calculates the optimum tree depth.
Analyzing dynamic performance of power systems over parameter space using normal forms of vector fields part II: Comparison of the system structure

This is part II of a two-part paper dealing with dynamic performance of power systems over the parameter space. The companion paper (part I) proposes an approach to identify unfavorable operating regions by searching for resonance and near resonance. The results show that near resonance among critical inertial modes and control modes may contribute to the unsatisfactory behavior of the system. In this paper, the effect of strong nonlinear modal interactions on machine states is quantified. A new index is derived to measure the relative severity of the near resonance. The linear and nonlinear characteristics of the system are separated and correlated to the transient stability of the system.
MR Studies of Glioblastoma Models Treated with Dual PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor and Temozolomide:Metabolic Changes Are Associated with Enhanced Survival

The current standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM) is surgical resection, radiotherapy, and treatment with temozolomide (TMZ). However, resistance to current therapies and recurrence are common. To improve survival, agents that target the PI3K signaling pathway, which is activated in approximately 88% of GBM, are currently in clinical trials. A challenge with such therapies is that tumor shrinkage is not always observed. New imaging methods are therefore needed to monitor response to therapy and predict survival. The goal of this study was to determine whether hyperpolarized (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be used to monitor response to the second-generation dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor voxtalisib (XL765, SAR245409), alone or in combination with TMZ. We investigated GS-2 and U87-MG GBM orthotopic tumors in mice, and used MRI, hyperpolarized (13)C MRSI, and (1)H MRS to monitor the effects of treatment. In our study, (1)H MRS could not predict tumor response to therapy. However, in both our models, we observed a significantly lower hyperpolarized lactate-to-pyruvate ratio in animals treated with voxtalisib, TMZ, or combination therapy, when compared with controls. This metabolic alteration was observed prior to MRI-detectable changes in tumor size, was consistent with drug action, and was associated with enhanced animal survival. Our findings confirm the potential translational value of the hyperpolarized lactate-to-pyruvate ratio as a biomarker for noninvasively assessing the effects of emerging therapies for patients with GBM. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(5); 1113-22. ©2016 AACR.
Temperature and time influence in the stress freezing of the epoxy Hysol 4290

Disks of the photoelastic epoxy known as Hysol 4290 have been subjected to constant load at various temperature levels and the birefringence has been recorded as time elapsed (creep test). Also disks of the same material were loaded at the critical temperature and then cooled, each to a different temperature level and, after they reached thermal equilibrium, the loading was removed while the temperature was maintained constant (recovery test). The effect of time on the fringe value is given for both groups of tests using the temperature as a parameter. Finally, tensile specimens have been subjected to various loads at the critical temperature and fringe response and failure recorded. The results obtained may be useful for the design of experiments and, in some cases, to shorten the time required to conduct a three-dimensional photoelasticity investigation using the “freezing” method.
Mechanism of aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis in the rat. I. Metabolism of tritiated aminonucleoside.

Summary1. The preparation and metabolism of radiochemically pure aminonucleoside, 6-dimethylamino-9-(3′-amino-3′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-purine, labeled with tritium by the Wilzbach procedure, is described and discussed. Data are presented for the distribution of radioactivity in body fluids and urine as well as in kidney and liver nucleic acids. 2. Study of the chemical nature of tritium activity in an acid-soluble nucleotide fraction, prepared from pooled kidney tissue of rats rendered nephrotic with the tritiated aminonucleoside, indicates that the rat is capable of metabolizing the latter into labeled products utilizable in the biosynthesis of adenosine and cytidine nucleotides. 3. Labeling of these nucleotides, which cannot be accounted for in terms of an exchange mechanism involving the hydrogens of body water, is considered in terms of alternative metabolic pathways.
Measuring Relationship Satisfaction: Is it Possible for Black Gay Male Couples to be Satisfied in a Relationship?

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the satisfaction of forty-two Black gay males who acknowledged that they were presently in a same-sex relationship, identifying themselves as a couple. This study challenged some of the myths and stereotypes associated with gay males and their relational experiences. This study used a questionnaire to gather descriptive information about the participants’ relationship satisfaction, dyadic adjustment, longevity of the relationship, monogamy or sexual-exclusivity, and future possibilities of the present relationship. Seventy-nine percent (N = 33) of the participants had been in their present relationship at least four years or longer.
SENSEI Computational Fluid Dynamics Code: A Case Study in Modern Fortran Software Development

interface subroutine calculate( a_in, b_in, c_out ) use set_precision, only : dr real(dr), intent(in) :: a_in, b_in real(dr), intent(out) :: c_out end subroutine calculate end interface procedure(calculate) :: calculation_routine public :: calculation_routine public :: subroutine_1
Radial Distribution Studies Under Highly Constrained Conditions.

The consequences of limited scattering data are considered for the determination of radial distribution functions. Such considerations are important, e.g., when substances are held at extreme pressure in a pressure vessel like the diamond anvil cell. By means of formal relations, alternatives to the direct Fourier inversion of the scattering data are considered, but it is found that they do not usefully circumvent the problems resulting from the truncation of data. Using an ideal set of data, five numerical procedures for inverting the data are compared as a function of the degree of data limitation. An extended-integral method is found to be the most reliable.
Lamprey GnRH-III acts on its putative receptor via nitric oxide to release follicle-stimulating hormone specifically.

Lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone-III (l-GnRH-III), the putative follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-releasing factor (FSHRF), exerts a preferential FSH-releasing activity in rats both in vitro and in vivo. To test the hypothesis that l-GnRH-III acts on its own receptors to stimulate gonadotropin release, the functional activity of this peptide at mammalian (m) leutinizing hormone (LH)RH receptors transfected to COS cells was tested. l-GnRH-III activated m-LHRH receptors only at a minimal effective concentration (MEC) of 10 �6 M, whereas m-LHRH was active at a MEC of 10 �9 M, at least 1,000 times less than that required for l-GnRH-III. In 4-day monolayer cultured cells, l-GnRH-III was similarly extremely weak in releasing either LH or FSH, and, in fact, it released LH at a lower concentration (10 �7 M) than that required for FSH release (10 �6 M). In this assay, m-LHRH released both FSH and LH significantly at the lowest concentration tested (10 �10 M). On the other hand, l-GnRH-III had a high potency to selectively release FSH and not LH from hemipituitaries of male rats. The results suggest that the cultured cells were devoid of FSHRF receptors, thereby resulting in a pattern of FSH and LH release caused by the LHRH receptor. On the other hand, the putative FSH-releasing factor receptor accounts for the selective FSH release by l-GnRH-III when tested on hemipituitaries. Removal of calcium from the medium plus the addition of EGTA, a calcium chelator, suppressed the release of gonadotropins induced by either l-GnRH-III or LHRH, indicating that calcium is required for the action of either peptide. Previous results showed that sodium nitroprusside, a releaser of nitric oxide (NO), causes the release of both FSH and LH from hemipituitaries incubated in vitro. In the present experiments, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase, L-NG-monomethyl-Larginine (300 µM) blocked the action of l-GnRH-III or partially purified FSHRF. The results indicate that l-GnRH-III and FSHRF act on putative FSHRF receptors by a calcium-dependent NO pathway. Exp Biol Med 227:786–793, 2002
Coupling of zinc dose to frequency in a regularly recurrent pattern shows a limited capacity of excessive dietary zinc to compensate for a previously deficient intake

The impact of feeding a proportional dose of zinc in a regularly recurrent pattern (idiorrhythmic feeding) on body growth of weanling rats was studied to assess the extent to which an intake exceeding the requirement could compensate for a previously deficient intake. The idiorrhythmic regimen (I) was designed so that the overall dose-time equivalent (modulo ; Mx) was kept constant over a selected period of time (epoch ; E), whereas the actual dose and frequency varied regularly according to a predetermined pattern ; that is, I = d nth (Mx)/d nth , where Mx and d nth are the selected dose-time equivalent and the sequential number of zinc-dosing days, respectively. For example, 3 mg Zn.kg -1 diet fed every day (I = 3/1) and 24 mg Zn.kg -1 diet fed 1 d in an 8-d period (7 d of feeding a zinc-deficient diet) (I = 24/8) are dose-time equivalents because they both provide 72 mg Zn.kg -1 over a 24-d E. Modulos of M3, M6, M12 and M24 were used, which provided 3, 6, 12 and 24 mg Zn.kg -1 .d -1 dose-time equivalents during a 24-d E. Each modulo had seven analogous idiorrhythms : I = Mx/1, 2Mx/2, 3Mx/3, 4Mx/4, 5Mx/5, 6Mx/6 and 8Mx/8 ; for example, with 8 Mx/8, 24, 48, 96 or 192 mg Zn.kg -1 diet was fed every 8th d ; on the other 7 d a diet without a zinc supplement was fed for M3, M6, M12 and M24, respectively. Zinc dose-rate idiorrhythm generated a complex, gestalt-like, biphasic growth response pattern where an intake of dietary zinc exceeding requirements had either no effect (M3 or average of 3 mg kg -1 diet) or fully compensated for only 1 (M6 and M12 or average of 6 and 12 mg Zn.kg -1 diet) or 2 (M24 or average of 24 mg Zn.kg -1 diet) d.
An Exploration on Regional Common Electricity Market Design

Regional common electricity market is the unique problem in China; there is no existing experience in the world. In this paper, 4 models of different regional common electricity market are presented, their advantages and disadvantages are compared, and an interim scheme to evolve into regional unified electricity market is proposed.
Comparative evaluation of iron leach from different sources of fly ash under atmospherically relevant conditions

Environmental context Iron, a limiting nutrient of plankton in the ocean, is deposited to the sea from atmospheric aerosols. In particular, atmospheric acidic conditions promote dissolution of iron from fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants. Here, we report that the iron leached from fly ash depends on its source region, and that the type of combustion process may influence the iron species mobilized. Abstract Fly ash, an iron-containing by-product of coal-fired power plants, has been observed in atmospheric aerosol plumes. Under the acidic atmospheric conditions resulting from the uptake of atmospheric gases, iron leached from fly ash can impact global biogeochemical cycles. However, the fly ash source region, as well as its generating power plant, plays an important role in the amount, speciation and lability of iron. Yet no comparative studies have been made on iron leached from fly ash from different sources. This study reports the iron mobilisation by proton-promoted dissolution from well-characterised fly ash samples from three distinctive locations: the USA Midwest, north-east India and Europe. In addition, pH dependency was also investigated. Proton-promoted dissolution showed a variability between source regions with a relative iron leach in the order USA Midwestern>north-east Indian>European ash. In addition, the initial rate of iron leach suggests that source region is indeed a determining factor in the iron leaching capacity of fly ash, because dissolution from Midwestern fly ash is also faster than both European and Indian ash. Finally, the combustion process of fly ash proved to be significant for the iron speciation, given that well-combusted fly ash samples leached mostly Fe3+ rather than bioavailable Fe2+. The role of fly ash should therefore be taken into account in order to better understand the effects of combustion particles in atmospheric iron deposition.
Lean and mean: an assessment of contract cities

Ever since the colonial era, the US government has been influenced by a market-orientated intellectual tradition. Under such a tradition, an ideal social structure is a lean government in contrast to a robust private sector. The recent surge of neoliberalism has advanced the development of a market model of governance, which distinguishes itself from the traditional state-centered bureaucracy in fundamental dimensions. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the contract city, which has pursued many of the market principles to an extreme. The article traces the evolution of contract cities in California, examines closely the structure, operation, and management of contract city using the City of Highland as an example, and discusses the implications of this new form of governance for public management, organizational theory, and American political economy.
Investigation of Random Copolymer Analogues of a Semi-Random Conjugated Polymer Incorporating Thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine

Semi-random conjugated polymers based on 3-hexylthiophene have been extensively investigated within the past several years as an effective route to broadening absorption without losing desirable properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Here, we closely investigate the structural, optical, and electronic differences found in randomized analogues of poly(3-hexylthiophene–thiophene–2,3-dimethylthieno[3,4-b]pyrazine) (P3HTT-TP) semi-random polymers. Proton nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy is used to identify linkages within the conjugated backbone, and UV–vis, cyclic voltammetry, and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction are used to determine the influence of the subtle differences in monomer connectivities. Semi-random P3HTT-TP was found to have a stronger intramolecular charge transfer absorption band and higher thermal transitions compared to its randomized analogue. Additionally, the function of the thiophene unit in the semi-random polymers is observed and demonstrated to have key electronic effe...
High-definition in-cell touch panel with parallel scanning method

We have developed a high-definition in-cell (HDI) touch panel technology that uses a parallel scanning method. This technology can be incorporated into various TFT backplanes including LTPS TFT and IGZO TFT. We have developed 5.7” WQHD LTPS LCD and 4.95” FHD IGZO LCD, both of which are integrated in-cell touch panels. A Nega-type liquid crystal (LC) material for IPS mode was used. The parallel scanning method allows high-definition in-cell touch panel LCDs with good touch panel performance, with SNR over 48.5dB.
Recent observations on design and analysis of protective structures

Abstract Recent studies at the Center for Infrastructure Protection and Physical Security (CIPPS) have focused on both active and passive protection, the definition and characterization of combined blast and fragment loads on structural elements, the influence of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) on the behavior of structural elements, and evaluating analysis approaches for progressive collapse assessment. Those studies have highlighted important issues that have not been sufficiently addressed previously, and this paper is aimed at describing the observations from the CIPPS studies that could be used to treat such difficult issues.
Angle of arrival estimation using array of arbitrarily oriented and spaced short dipole antenna

The aim of this work is to design a direction finding system that uses arbitrarily oriented and spaced, short dipole antenna array, and examine the array elements orientation and position perturbation effects on the accuracy of the estimated angle of arrival (AoA). The Min-Norm Angle of Arrival estimation method is modified through the standard Lagrange Optimization Method to accommodate variations in the array signal vectors caused by perturbation of the orientation and location of the antenna elements. Simulations verify that the proposed method provides better performance compared with the Min-Norm Method in terms of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the estimated AoA.
Spectral-temporal modulation of supercontinuum generation for two-photon optogenetics (Conference Presentation)

By combining optical and genetic methods, optogenetics has become a very important tool in neuroscience research for manipulating neuron activities. The rapid development of novel opsins and fluorescent indicators has introduced a large palette of biochemical probes for optogenetic stimulation and cellular imaging, which makes the all-optical neural circuit excitation and neural activity recording possible. Compared to visible-light illumination, two-photon excitation and imaging avoids the crosstalk from optogenetic probes and calcium sensors, and provides for deeper penetration and higher spatial-temporal resolution for single-cell-level precise manipulation. Two-photon interactions frequently necessitate the use of high-power sources with narrow bandwidth outputs. Although tunable sources, such as the titanium-sapphire laser, offer some degree of flexibility, multiple bulky and expensive lasers are required for simultaneous two-photon optogenetic stimulation and calcium imaging. Here, we propose to use fiber-based supercontinuum generation as a broadband coherent light source for two-photon excitation and imaging. A custom-made photonic crystal fiber is pumped by a Yb:KYW laser (1041 nm, 220 fs, 80 MHz) to generate a femtosecond output with a wide range of wavelengths, 900 - 1170 nm, which covers most of the two-photon excitation wavelengths of the molecules used in optogenetics, e.g. C1V1-2A-mCherry and GCaMP6s in our study. A pulse shaper is utilized to modulate the phases of partial wavelengths to tailor the temporal shape of the femtosecond pulse, which manipulates the absorption of optogenetic probes and provides a unique approach for controllable optogenetic excitation. Video-rate calcium imaging results suggest that spectral-temporal programmable supercontinuum pulses provide a powerful tool for neural network activity research.
FM Global Large-Scale Fire Sprinkler Testing

Two large-scale fire tests were conducted to evaluate the level of protection provided by a ceiling only sprinkler system. The performance objective was for the ceiling only sprinkler system to extinguish a large-scale rack storage fire of CUP commodity. The passing criteria for the test was that the fire must be nearly extinguished before the predicted time of significant battery involvement established for the Li-ion battery commodities in the reduced-commodity tests (see Sect. 5.1).
Teaching the Absolute Value Function

A unit on absolute value and inequalities can be taught in such a way that interested, capable students will learn a great deal of useful mathematics. The suggestions below reflect my experience of the past few years as I have taught this topic to college stu dents who plan to become high school teachers. They gain insight into the role definitions play in the development of mathematical ideas. I use five definitions of the absolute value of a real number. Students work one problem in five distinctly different ways, basing each solution on one of the defini tions. They find it most instructive to ob serve how the choice of a definition influ
Analysis of crack propagation in asphalt concrete using a cohesive crack model

A cohesive crack model, which is similar to the Dugdale-Barenblatt model, was proposed to simulate the progressive crack development in asphalt concrete. Tensile strength, fracture energy, and the stress-separation relationship are the basic material properties associated with this model. To evaluate the material properties, indirect tensile tests and three-point bend tests were performed. From these experimental results, the effects of temperature on Young's modulus, the fracture energy, and the indirect tensile strength were evaluated. To determine the stress-separation relationship, a numerical simulation (or curve-fitting method) was used. Using the material properties obtained from the experimental study, temperature effects on different fracture parameters (i.e., critical stress intensity factor and critical J-integral) were studied. The theoretical predictions were found to be in good agreement with the available experimental results. This finding also indicates the potential applications of the proposed model in evaluating the performance of asphalt concrete pavements.
Aqueous and Mineral Fractions of the Fat-Free Body and Their Relation to Body Fat Estimates in Men and Women Aged 49–82 Years

Due to age-related decreases in bone minera11,2 and total body protein3 coupled with a possible increase in the hydration of the fat-free mass (1,1-M)4, it is likely that, on average, the density of the FFM is lower in older relative to younger adults. Other investigators have speculated that the density of the FFM may become more variable with advancing age5,6. In either case, erroneous estimates of body fat percentage (%Fat) will result when traditional two-component (2C: fat and fat-free) models7 are used in older adults. More complex four component (4C: fat, water, mineral and fat-free residual) models3,5,8 may provide more valid substitutes for the 2C model7 in older adults.
Risk of fracture and treatment to prevent osteoporosis-related fracture in postmenopausal women. A review.

OBJECTIVE To review the antifracture efficacy of pharmacologic therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. STUDY DESIGN For this literature review, published trials of antiresorptive therapy with the bisphosphonates risedronate and alendronate, the selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene and calcitonin were reviewed; hormone replacement therapy was not included as this modality is not indicated for treatment of osteoporosis. RESULTS In controlled trials of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, risedronate reduced the incidence of clinically evident vertebral fracture after 6 months of therapy and radiographically detected vertebral and nonvertebral fracture after 1 year. In similar trials, alendronate also reduced the risk of clinical vertebral fractures in 1 year. Risedronate and alendronate were both well tolerated, but some trials of alendronate were closed to women with recent upper gastrointestinal disease. In a large, controlled trial, raloxifene demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of clinical vertebral fracture but not in the risk of nonvertebral fracture. Raloxifene is also associated with a 3-fold increased risk of thromboembolism. Calcitonin reduced the incidence of vertebral fracture, but there are no conclusive data on prevention of nonvertebral fracture. CONCLUSION Antiresorptive therapy can reduce the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fracture. The bisphosphonates are also effective in reducing the risk of hip fracture in women with osteoporosis.
Economics of genomic testing for women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Creating the value proposition for innovations in personalized genomic medicine requires generation of evidence-based demonstrations of clinical utility and cost-effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: To assess economic studies of genomic testing for women with breast cancer and to understand the value of genomic testing for multiple stakeholders. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS: A structured review of the literature was conducted to identify and synthesize available evidence regarding economic analyses of genomic testing for breast cancer. A search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010. The search was then expanded to include articles as far back as 1981. In addition, snowball methodology was used to identify and include additional articles based on frequency of author publication and frequency of citation in the literature. RESULTS: Of the articles reviewed, a subset of 9 articles describing specific economic analysis studies were included in a more in-depth, side-by-side comparison. This review of the literature on the economics of genomic testing for women with breast cancer found that most of the economic evidence relied on modeling rather than clinical trial data. CONCLUSIONS: Facilitating the diffusion of new technology will require more data to satisfy the payer, provider, and societal perspectives. Conversely, willingness by payers and clinicians to consider economic modeling data as part of their evaluation of new technologies can help facilitate the diffusion of newly developed genomic tests.