cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of Organophosphorus Acid Anhydrase in Blood

In an attempt to develop a new conceptual approach to paraoxon antagonism by encapsulating organophosphorus acid anhydrase (OPA anhydrase) into carrier erythrocytes, it necessitated the spectral determination of OPA anhydrase activity in blood. OPA anhydrase determination usually is conducted in serum or plasma. This presents a problem, because blood contains various substances that interfere with the determination of OPA anhydrase. This enzyme used paraoxon as the substrate, liberating p-nitrophenol and diethylphosphate. OPA anhydrase has a broad substrate specificity and is capable of hydrolyzing other organophosphorus compounds, i.e., pesticides, nerve gases, etc. Blood OPA anhydrase activity was determined with paraoxon as the substrate. This reaction was terminated by adding hydrochloric acid to the reaction mixture. The p-nitrophenol then was extracted with dichloromethane, and p-nitrophenol was determined at 400 nm. The sensitivity of this method can be greatly enhanced by increasing the sample siz...
A METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF INDUCED INTERFERENCE WITH TRANSPLANTABLE TISSUE GROWTH

1. A design of experiments and technical procedure is described for the study of interference with transplantable tissue growth by test agents. The methods are guided by the principle of randomization and are based on the pairing of test and control in each host. 2. A system of analysis, employing well known statistical measures, is applied to results obtained with these methods and shows that they lead to consistently reproducible results. 3. A simple analytical method is proposed for correlating results obtained with different kinds of transplantable tissue in different strains of animals. This method is based on the condensation of an extended frequency distribution of events in control series of cases into a three category array of a normal frequency distribution. The three categories of test action are the inhibitory, the ineffectual, and the accelerative.
Progesterone receptor-induced bending of its target DNA: distinct effects of the A and B receptor forms.

We have used circular permutation and phasing electrophoretic mobility shift assays to determine the ability of the A and B forms of human progesterone receptor (PR) to bend target DNA. Studies were done with baculovirus-expressed full-length receptors purified to apparent homogeneity. By circular permutation analysis, both forms of PR induced substantial distortions in the structure of target DNA with calculated distortion angles (alpha D) of 57 degrees for PR-A and 84 degrees for PR-B. The apparent bend centers for both forms of PR were similarly located a few base pairs (-4 to -2 bp) from the middle of the progesterone response element. No differences were detected in the magnitude of distortion or apparent bend centers when PR was bound to hormone agonist (R5020) or the antagonist RU486. Phasing analysis, which can determine the orientation of a DNA bend, revealed that both forms of PR mediated directional bends toward the major groove of the DNA helix. Calculated directed bend angles (alpha B) were 4...
Low complexity resource allocation with opportunistic feedback over downlink OFDMA networks

Optimal tone allocation in downlink OFDMA networks is a non-convex NP-hard problem that requires extensive feedback for channel information. In this paper, two constant complexity limited-feedback algorithms are proposed to achieve near-optimal performance. First, using opportunistic feedback, the proposed schemes are shown to reduce feedback overhead by requiring only users likely to be allocated resources to feedback. There are differences between the two proposed schemes for implementation of the feedback protocol. One scheme requires less feedback but is contention-based, while the other scheme is sequential and thus avoids possible collisions leading to slightly higher performance, but needs more feedback. Second, complexity is reduced for resource allocation by solving the optimization problem in a distributed manner, rather than centrally at the base station. As shown both analytically and through numerical results, these distributed algorithms reduce the required feedback overhead significantly, and achieve constant computational complexity with little performance loss compared to the optimal solution.
Technology Refresh of NOAA's Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Buoy System

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) buoy array has a long history of providing valuable climate data to both the climate and forecast communities. A major concern for a sustained and long-term TAO operation is the impending obsolescence of the technology used in the current version of the TAO array. An increasing number of components are being discontinued or are no longer supported by the manufacturers due to the technology presently used being more than 10 years old. During the transition of the TAO array from NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) to NOAA's National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), it was decided to take this opportunity to "refresh" the TAO buoy system by replacing the obsolescent components in the current TAO system to ensure continuity of the TAO array. This paper first discusses the obsolescent components in the existing TAO array system. Then, the refreshed components of the refreshed TAO buoy system are discussed, including a newly-designed data logger, modified battery system, commercial off-the-shelf underwater sensors, a new compass, Iridium communication, modified and enhanced shore-side data system, and other minor design modifications. The field testing of the TAO refreshed buoys is also presented.
Managing Risks in a Risk-On/Risk-Off Environment

Every structure has natural frequencies. Minor shocks in these frequencies can bring down any structure, e.g. a bridge. An Investment Universe also has natural frequencies, characterized by its eigenvectors. A concentration of risks in the direction of any such eigenvector exposes a portfolio to the possibility of greater than expected losses (indeed, maximum risk for that portfolio size), even if that portfolio is below the risk limits. This is particularly dangerous in a risk-on/risk-off regime. Managing Risk is not only about limiting its amount, but also controlling how this amount is concentrated around the natural frequencies of the investment universe.
Evolutionary context for understanding and manipulating plant responses to past, present and future atmospheric [CO2]

Variation in atmospheric [CO2] is a prominent feature of the environmental history over which vascular plants have evolved. Periods of falling and low [CO2] in the palaeo-record appear to have created selective pressure for important adaptations in modern plants. Today, rising [CO2] is a key component of anthropogenic global environmental change that will impact plants and the ecosystem goods and services they deliver. Currently, there is limited evidence that natural plant populations have evolved in response to contemporary increases in [CO2] in ways that increase plant productivity or fitness, and no evidence for incidental breeding of crop varieties to achieve greater yield enhancement from rising [CO2]. Evolutionary responses to elevated [CO2] have been studied by applying selection in controlled environments, quantitative genetics and trait-based approaches. Findings to date suggest that adaptive changes in plant traits in response to future [CO2] will not be consistently observed across species or environments and will not be large in magnitude compared with physiological and ecological responses to future [CO2]. This lack of evidence for strong evolutionary effects of elevated [CO2] is surprising, given the large effects of elevated [CO2] on plant phenotypes. New studies under more stressful, complex environmental conditions associated with climate change may revise this view. Efforts are underway to engineer plants to: (i) overcome the limitations to photosynthesis from today's [CO2] and (ii) benefit maximally from future, greater [CO2]. Targets range in scale from manipulating the function of a single enzyme (e.g. Rubisco) to adding metabolic pathways from bacteria as well as engineering the structural and functional components necessary for C4 photosynthesis into C3 leaves. Successfully improving plant performance will depend on combining the knowledge of the evolutionary context, cellular basis and physiological integration of plant responses to varying [CO2].
Cardioprotective actions of nisoldipine in postreperfusion myocardial ischemia

Nisoldipine, a dihydropyridine with calcium channel-blocking activity, was studied in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in cats. At an infusion rate of 3 micrograms/kg/hr, nisoldipine did not significantly alter the product of mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate, the pressure-rate index. When infusion of nisoldipine was started 30 minutes after occlusion and continued for 5 1/2 hours, nisoldipine exerted a marked antiischemic effect. This effect was manifested as a significant reduction in necrotic myocardial tissue expressed either as a percentage of area at risk (p less than 0.01) or as a percentage of total left ventricle (p less than 0.01). The washout of creatine kinase into the circulation was also reduced in nisoldipine-treated cats. When nisoldipine infusion started at 60 minutes after ischemia, the effects were still significant (p less than 0.05) but less striking, and when nisoldipine infusion was delayed until 90 minutes after ischemia, no significant cardioprotection was observed. Nisoldipine also blunted the washout of creatine kinase into the peripheral circulation on reperfusion. Thus nisoldipine exerts a cardioprotective effect in cats during myocardial ischemia independent of reducing myocardial oxygen demand. The effect is optimal when nisoldipine is given during the first 30 minutes of ischemia and declines thereafter, reaching insignificant effects at 90 minutes.
Process Improvements for Reductions in Total Charge and Interface Trap Densities of Thermally-Grown Sub-3.5nm-Thick Silicon Nitrides

Ultra-thin silicon nitride films are being studied for use as high-dielectric constant (high-k) materials in future gate dielectric applications, as Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) transistors are scaled down to the sub-100nm regime. In this study, process modifications are proposed to reduce the total charge and interface trap densities in sub-3.5 nm-thick silicon nitride films, grown in NH3, in a conventional furnace at 900°C and 1 atm. It is shown that by employing a short (<1 min) oxynitridation step in NO, before nitridation, and oxynitridation/Ar-annealing steps, after nitridation, silicon nitride films can be thermally grown with a total charge density as low as about 2.5E10 q/cm2 and an interface trap density of about 2.1E11 /(eV-cm2). Besides, the effect of using NO as opposed to N2O for oxynitridation steps is also discussed.
Electroweak Form-factors of the Skyrmion

The electroweak form factors of baryons are studied in the semiclassical approximation to the Skyrme model. General expressions for the form factors are given for arbitrary choices of the Skyrme-model Lagrangian. They are applied to the original two-parameter Skyrme model to compute the electric, magnetic, and axial-vector form factors of the nucleon and the electromagnetic nucleon-\ensuremath{\Delta} transition form factors. The dependence of the form factors on the momentum transfer is compared with phenomenological dipole parametrizations.
Comparative study on the mutual coupling between different sized cylindrical dielectric resonators antennas and circular microstrip patch antennas

A systematic comparative study on the mutual coupling (S/sub 21/) between dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) and microstrip patch antennas is presented. The mutual coupling between two cylindrical probe-fed DRAs is studied for different radius to height (a/L) ratios. It is found that the mutual coupling decreases with the radius to height ratio. Comparison between mutual coupling of probe-fed cylindrical DRAs and circular microstrip patch antennas with different dielectric substrates are also studied. The mutual coupling between DRAs is 2 dB stronger than between microstrip patch antennas when the patch is etched on a dielectric substrate of a dielectric constant close to the permittivity of the DRA. The mutual coupling of the circular patch antennas reduces with the dielectric constant of the substrate.
Biological diversity, chemical mechanisms, and the evolutionary origins of bioluminescent systems

A diversity of organisms are endowed with the ability to emit light, and to display and control it in a variety of ways. Most of the luciferins (substrates) of the various phylogenetically distant systems fall into unrelated chemical classes, and, based on still limited data, the luciferases (enzymes) and reaction mechanisms are distinctly different. Based on its diversity and phylogenetic distribution, it is estimated that bioluminescence may have arisen independently as many as 30 times in the course of evolution. However, there are several examples of cross-phyletic similarities among the substrates; some of these may be accounted for nutritionally, but in other cases they may have evolved independently.
New electrical design verification approach for 2.5D/3D package signal and power integrity

A 2.5D/3D multi die interposer with TSV (Through Silicon Via) allows massive wide parallel busses between memory and logics devices, improves speed, and significantly reduces power consumption. The TSV and silicon interposer are amongst the most promising technologies that offer the greatest vertical interconnects density. This new establishment will change the semiconductor industry paradigm for many years to come. 2.5D/3D technology introduces a new degree of electrical design complexity which is unfamiliar to many existing electrical design methodologies and EDA tools. A new electrical verification methodology must be developed with consideration to the micro level (TSV and interposer structures) and macro/system level simulation. At the Micro level, modeling of TSV is challenging due to its dependency on the material properties of the medium surrounding it and its impact on the signal losses/attenuation, capacitance effects, and the coupling among the vertical interconnects. At the Macro level, new electrical characteristics of the system need to be closely coupled with the thermal and mechanical tolerances of the entire 2.5D/3D packaging structure in order for its ultra wideband data exchange between logic chip and memory chips. TSV placement on logic and memory chips must be carefully placed during the chip design placement stage in order to avoid unnecessary electromagnetic coupling and faulty logic latching. Traditional separate signal and power integrity analysis methodologies are no longer sufficient due to the close proximity of the power and signal distribution network. In order to accurately predict the performance of 2.5D/3D packages, a new design paradigm shift is needed to toggle 2.5D/3D system performance optimization. New design and modeling approaches along with new breeds of computational electromagnetic EDA tools, are paramount to predicting the performance of 2.5D/3D packages.
Amelanotic melanoma: The great masquerader☆

Abstract Background: Cutaneous melanoma is often recognized by its dark color, but some tumors have little or no pigmentation. Objective: We present the clinical findings of 4 cases of primary cutaneous amelanotic melanoma in which the clinical diagnosis was unsuspected and one case of amelanotic metastatic melanoma. Methods: Five cases of melanoma are reviewed. The clinical morphology of the lesions is presented and discussed. We surveyed the literature regarding conditions that mimic amelanotic melanoma, and we discuss the treatment and prognosis for amelanotic melanoma. Results: Amelanotic melanoma may masquerade as a variety of other conditions leading to a delay in the diagnosis or an inappropriate biopsy technique. The prognosis of amelanotic primary tumors is no different from that for its pigmented counterpart. Conclusion: The clinician should be familiar with the presentation of amelanotic melanoma to facilitate prompt diagnosis. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;42:731-4.)
Regions in the carboxy terminus of α-bENaC involved in gating and functional effects of actin

Gating differences occur between the α-subunits of the bovine and rat clones of an amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). Deletion of the carboxy terminus of bovine α-ENaC (α-bENaC) at ...
Efficient High-Dimensional Stochastic Optimal Motion Control using Tensor-Train Decomposition

Stochastic optimal control problems frequently arise as motion control problems in the context of robotics. Unfortunately, all existing approaches that guarantee arbitrary precision suffer from the curse of dimensionality: the computational effort invested by the algorithm grows exponentially fast with increasing dimensionality of the state space of the underlying dynamic system governing the robot. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm that utilizes compressed representations to efficiently solve stochastic optimal control problems with arbitrary precision. The running time of the new algorithms scale linearly with increasing dimensionality of the state space! The running time also depends polynomially on the “rank” of the value function, a measure that quantifies the intrinsic geometric complexity of the value function, due to the geometry and physics embedded in the problem instance at hand. The new algorithms are based on the recent analysis and algorithms for tensor decomposition, generalizing matrix decomposition algorithms, e.g., the singular value decomposition, to three or more dimensions. In computational experiments, we show the computational effort of the new algorithm also scales linearly with the discretization resolution of the state space. We also demonstrate the new algorithm on a problem involving the perching of an aircraft, represented by a nonlinear non-holonomic longitudinal model with a sevendimensional state space, the full numerical solution to which was not obtained before. In this example, we estimate that the proposed algorithm runs more than seven orders of magnitude faster, when compared to the naive value iteration.
Abstract 18558: Characterization of Cx43-PKP2 Interaction by Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy

The cardiac intercalated disc is composed of 3 structures involved in the electrical and mechanical coupling of the cardiomyocytes: gap junctions, desmosomes and adherens junctions. Several studies suggest that these structures interact at the intercalated disc. In particular a crosstalk between the desmosomal and gap junction proteins PKP2 and Cx43 has been demonstrated. To characterize the proximity of these two proteins we used a Duolink assay. With this method, we demonstrated that Cx43 and PKP2 reside in the periphery of the adult cardiac intercalated disc at distances
A Probability Model for the Measurement of Ecological Segregation

IN RECENT years many indexes have been proposed to measure ecological segregation and many criteria for the evaluation of such a measure have been set forth.' As Jahn, Schmid, and Schrag point out, there is theoretically virtually no limit to the number and variety of indexes of ecological segregation which might be constructed. The purpose of this paper is to examine the underlying logic of one set of these segregation indexes, namely, the Shevky-Williams index of isolation and group segregation ratio. A probability model is proposed which estimates the probable interaction between the members of the same racial, nationality, or cultural group and another is proposed which estimates the probable interaction among the members of different groups. The chief advantage of the probability model for the measurement of ecological segregation is that it provides a context for the direct interpretation of scores at all points along the continuum from "no segregation" to "complete segregation." Minor revisions in the ShevkyWilliams indexes are suggested which are consistent with this probability interpretation.
Near quantum limited optical phase measurements on a dark fringe

We describe an optical experiment that makes use of weak value inspired amplification. We show that the signal-to-noise ratio of a phase measurement using this method rivals modern techniques, even on a dark fringe.
Accelerated urokinase-receptor protein turnover triggered by interference with the addition of the glycolipid anchor.

u-PAR (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor), anchored to the cell surface via a glycolipid moiety, drives tumour progression. We previously reported that colon cancer cells (RKO clone 2 FS2), attenuated for in vivo tumorigenicity, are diminished >15-fold for u-PAR display when compared with their tumorigenic isogenic counterparts (RKO clone 2), this disparity not reflecting altered transcription/mRNA stability. FACS, confocal microscopy and Western blotting using a fused u-PAR–EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) cDNA revealed a >14-fold differential in the u-PAR–EGFP signal between the isogenic cells, ruling out alternate splicing as a mechanism. Although metabolic labelling indicated similar synthesis rates, pulse–chase revealed accelerated u-PAR–EGFP turnover in the RKO clone 2 FS2 cells. Expression in RKO clone 2 cells of a u-PAR–EGFP protein unable to accept the glycolipid moiety yielded diminished protein amounts, thus mirroring the low endogenous protein levels evident with RKO clone 2 FS2 cells. Transcript levels for the phosphatidylglycan anchor biosynthesis class B gene required for glycolipid synthesis were reduced by 65% in RKO clone 2 FS2 cells, and forced overexpression in these cells partially restored endogenous u-PAR. Thus attenuated u-PAR levels probably reflects accelerated turnover triggered by inefficient addition of the glycolipid moiety.
Technical note: the initial stages of statistical data analysis.

Abstract Objective: To provide an overview of several important data-related considerations in the design stage of a research project and to review the levels of measurement and their relationship to the statistical technique chosen for the data analysis. Background: When planning a study, the researcher must clearly define the research problem and narrow it down to specific, testable questions. The next steps are to identify the variables in the study, decide how to group and treat subjects, and determine how to measure, and the underlying level of measurement of, the dependent variables. Then the appropriate statistical technique can be selected for data analysis. Description: The four levels of measurement in increasing complexity are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal data are categorical or “count” data, and the numbers are treated as labels. Ordinal data can be ranked in a meaningful order by magnitude. Interval data possess the characteristics of ordinal data and also have equal distances between levels. Ratio data have a natural zero point. Nominal and ordinal data are analyzed with nonparametric statistical techniques and interval and ratio data with parametric statistical techniques. Advantages: Understanding the four levels of measurement and when it is appropriate to use each is important in determining which statistical technique to use when analyzing data.
The Use of In Vitro Transcription to Probe Regulatory Functions of Viral Protein Domains

Adenoviruses (Ads), like other DNA tumor viruses, have evolved specific regulatory genes that facilitate virus replication by controlling the transcription of other viral genes as well as that of key cellular genes. In this regard, the E1A transcription unit contains multiple protein domains that can transcriptionally activate or repress cellular genes involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Studies using in vitro transcription have provided a basis for a molecular understanding of the interaction of viral regulatory proteins with the transcriptional machinery of the cell and continue to inform our understanding of transcription regulation. This chapter provides examples of the use of in vitro transcription to analyze transcriptional activation and transcriptional repression by purified, recombinant Ad E1A protein domains and single amino acid substitution mutants as well as the use of protein-affinity chromatography to identify host cell transcription factors involved in viral transcriptional regulation. A detailed description is provided of the methodology to prepare nuclear transcription extract, to prepare biologically active protein domains, to prepare affinity depleted transcription extracts, and to analyze transcription by primer extension and by run-off assay using naked DNA templates.
The blood picture of the goat. IV. Changes in coagulation times, platelet counts and leucocyte numbers, associated with age.

SUMMARY Coagulation times, platelet counts and absolute and differential leucocyte counts were estimated in goats from the day of birth to the age of 3 years and regression lines were calculated from the data. The results are detailed in Tables and Figures. Blood coagulation times fell from an average of 4·25 min. near birth to 2·9 at 68 hr. They then rose slowly to reach 4·49 at Month 30. Platelet counts averaged 116,130 per mm.3 over the first 1 days and then began to fall until Mouth 17 or 18 when they reached their minimum of 28,000. They then rose to 62,500 at Mouth 23. Total leucocyte counts averaged 8,371 per mm.3 over the first 14 days; the average then rose to reach 19,180 at Week 16 and subsequently fell to 10,931 at Month 30. In the differential count monocytes remained at an average of 2·54%, eosinophils at 0·984 and basophils at 0·278% in spite of the changes in total leucocyte count. Immature neutrophils rose from an average of 0·42% to 2·5% on the 4th day and then fell to 1% in Week 2. No young forms were seen after Month 4 and baud forms were rare after Month 14. Absolute counts of neutrophils and lymphocytes showed a quick rise in lymphocytes from 2,930 per mm.3 over the first 16 hr: to 14,661 at Mouth 4, followed by a slow fall to 3,890 at Month 39. Neutrophil changes were less marked and the average remained between 3,000 and 4,800 per mm.3 Medium lymphocytes with nuclei containing bodies resembling nucleoli are discussed.
A Systematic Study of Plasma Activation of Silicon Surfaces for Self Assembly.

We study the plasma activation systematically in an attempt to simplify and optimize the formation of hydrophilic silicon (Si) surface critical for self-assembly of nanostructures that typically uses piranha solution, a high molarity cocktail of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide at elevated temperatures. In the proposed safer and simpler approach, O2 plasma is used under optimized process conditions in a capacitively coupled parallel-plate chamber to induce strong hydrophilic behavior on silicon surfaces associated with the formation of suboxide groups. Surface activation is validated and studied via contact angle measurements as well as XPS spectra and consequently optimized using a novel atomic force spectroscopy approach, which can streamline characterization. It is found that plasma power around 100 W and exposure duration of ∼65 s are the most effective parameters to enhance surface activation for the reactive ion etcher system used. Other optimum plasma process conditions for pressure and flow-rat...
“Orphan” α6 Nicotinic AChR Subunit Can Form a Functional Heteromeric Acetylcholine Receptor

Previously, a rat brain cDNA was reported that was designated α6 because of its homology with nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) α subunits, being especially similar to α3, but no acetylcholine-gated cation channels were detected when it was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes alone or in combination with other known rat AChR subunits. We cloned chicken α6 and human β4 AChR subunits and tested for acetylcholine-gated cation channels with α6 by expression in X. laevis oocytes alone or in pairwise combination with chicken α3, β2, or β4 or with human α3, β2, or β4 AChR subunits. Chicken α6 formed detectable functional AChRs only when expressed together with the human β4 subunit. The α6β4 AChR-mediated currents show strong inward rectification and dependence on extracellular Ca2+. It exhibited a distinct pharmacological profile with an EC50value of 28 μm for acetylcholine, 24 nmfor (+)-epibatidine, 6.6 μm cytisine, and 15 μm 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium. Both cytisine and 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium behaved as partial (∼30%) agonists. Remarkably, nicotine (EC50 = 22 μm) was an even weaker partial agonist (∼18%) and had a relatively long-lasting inhibitory effect. Coexpression of the previously cloned rat α6 subunit with the human the β4 subunit also resulted in functional α6β4 AChRs with properties resembling those of the chicken/human α6β4 AChRs. Therefore, α6 can function as part of AChRs with unusual pharmacological properties.
Effects of eye movement with functional electrical stimulation on balance in stroke patients with neglect syndrome

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to determine whether eye movement in conjunction with functional electrical stimulation (FES) could improve balance ability in stroke patients with neglect syndrome. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects consisted of 15 stroke patients with neglect syndrome. The intervention was eye movement in conjunction with FES. The program was conducted 5 times per week, for 6 weeks. Static balance (eyes-open and eyes-closed) and dynamic balance were measured before and after testing. [Results] In measurement of static balance, subjects showed significant differences in sway length and sway area when examined in the eyes-open condition, but not the eyes-closed condition. In measurement of dynamic balance, the subjects showed significant differences in limit of stability (forward/backward and left/right). [Conclusion] These results indicate that eye movement in conjunction with FES had a positive effect on the static and dynamic balance in the eyes-open condition, but not in the eyes-closed condition of stroke patients with neglect syndrome. Further studies should therefore investigate various interventions in stroke patients with neglect syndrome.
Expression of Castor and L. Fendleri Oleate 12-hydroxylases in Transgenic Plants

Ricinoleic acid (D-12-hydroxyoctadec-cis-9-enoic acid), is an hydroxylated fatty acid which constitutes 85–90% of the seed fatty acids in castor bean plants (Ricinus communis L.). This unusual fatty acid is also one of a series of related Hydroxy Fatty Acids (HFAs) produced in the seeds of Lesquerella species. In these species, which, like A. thaliana and rapeseed belong to the Brassicacae family, ricinoleic acid is generally a minor constituent. Major HFAs include densipolic (12-OH, 18:2 (3,9)), lesquerolic (14-OH, 20:1 (9)) and auricolic (14-OH, 20:2 (3,9)) acids.
Low-pressure study of the HO2 + HO2 reaction at 298 K

The rate constant for the reaction HO2 + HO2 yields H2O2 + O2 was measured at 298 K and 1 torr total pressure of helium by using the discharge flow technique. A quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to detect HO2 in conjunction with in situ long-path ultraviolet absorption which was used for calibration. A value of 1.5 + or - 0.4 x 10 to the -12th per molecule/s was obtained for k1 where the rate constant is defined by the relation -d(HO2)/dt = 2K1(HO2)HO2.
Microsoft Transaction Server

The Microsoft Transaction Server represents a new category of product that makes it makes it easier to develop and deploy high performance, scaleable, and reliable distributed applications. This is achieved by combining the technology of component based development and deployment environments with the reliability and scaleability of transaction processing monitors.
The Search for Efficient Digitally Generated Impulse-Like Ultrawideband Signals

In a previous paper, a search procedure was described to design a family of FCC compliant digital impulse- radio UWB pulses, of which any one could be used as the basic pulse shape for an UWB impulse radio. The transmitted waveforms took into account source whitening, DAC reproduction (clock) rates, filtering, and various antennas so as to optimize the radiated waveform to approximate the FCC mask as closely as possible without violating the constraints. Here, further results of the search are presented for constrained maximally efficient waveforms. Efficiency exceeding 40% is possible with only 11 samples for a particular transmit antenna.
Reconstructing a Generalized Quadrangle from its Distance Two Association Scheme

Payne l4r constructed an association scheme from a generalized quadrangle with a quasiregular point. We show that an association scheme with appropriate parameters and satisfying an assumption about maximal cliques must be one of these schemes arising from a generalized quadrangle.
Dynamic assessment of sling function on transperineal ultrasound: does it correlate with outcomes 1 year following surgery?

To correlate dynamic assessment of sling function using 2D and 3D transperineal ultrasound with outcomes following transobturator sling surgery. This is an unmatched case–control study of 100 patients who underwent transobturator sling surgery at our center between 2009 and 2012. Group A (n = 50) patients had successful outcomes and group B (n = 50) patients had suboptimal outcomes 1 year following surgery. The patients underwent 2D dynamic and 3D transperineal ultrasound. The two groups were compared with regard to the deformability of the sling on Valsalva, the concordance of urethral movement with the sling, and location of the sling. When compared with group B, group A had a significantly greater number of patients in whom the sling deformed at Valsalva (flat at rest, curving into a c-shape at Valsalva), the urethral movement was concordant with the sling and the sling had a midurethral location (p < 0.0001). In all 17 patients in group B in whom the urethra moved in a concordant manner with the sling (34%), the sling did not deform on Valsalva maneuver and was located proximally. In all 15 patients in group A in whom the sling remained either flat or curved (30%), the urethra moved concordant with the sling and the sling was in midurethral location. On 2D and 3D transperineal ultrasound, the best outcomes following transobturator sling surgery are associated with concordance of urethral movement with the sling, midurethral location, and deformability of the sling on dynamic assessment.
Prolonged sleep duration as a marker of early neurodegeneration predicting incident dementia

Objective: To evaluate the association between sleep duration and the risk of incident dementia and brain aging. Methods: Self-reported total hours of sleep were examined in the Framingham Heart Study (n = 2,457, mean age 72 ± 6 years, 57% women) as a 3-level variable: 9 hours (long), and was related to the risk of incident dementia over 10 years, and cross-sectionally to total cerebral brain volume (TCBV) and cognitive performance. Results: We observed 234 cases of all-cause dementia over 10 years of follow-up. In multivariable analyses, prolonged sleep duration was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia (hazard ratio [HR] 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–3.26). These findings were driven by persons with baseline mild cognitive impairment (HR 2.83; 95% CI 1.06–7.55) and persons without a high school degree (HR 6.05; 95% CI 3.00–12.18). Transitioning to sleeping >9 hours over a mean period of 13 years before baseline was associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia (HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.44–4.11) and clinical Alzheimer disease (HR 2.20; 95% CI 1.17–4.13). Relative to sleeping 6–9 hours, long sleep duration was also associated cross-sectionally with smaller TCBV (β ± SE, −1.08 ± 0.41 mean units of TCBV difference) and poorer executive function (β ± SE, −0.41 ± 0.13 SD units of Trail Making Test B minus A score difference). Conclusions: Prolonged sleep duration may be a marker of early neurodegeneration and hence a useful clinical tool to identify those at a higher risk of progressing to clinical dementia within 10 years.
A New Trigonopsis (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) Record for Trinidad, West Indies

During my recent sabbatical in Trinidad I collected two females of Trigonopsis cooperi Vardy on the southern side of the Northern Range of Trinidad. Their label data are as follows: Caura Valley, N10.688˚, W61.371˚, 28.VIII.2004, and Caura Valley, N10.705˚, W61.368˚, 27.I.2005. Elevation at both collection sites were slightly over 200 m. Previously this species was known from only 7 localities in Brazil and Ecuador (Vardy 1978).
Instruction in teaching and teaching opportunities for residents in US dermatology programs: Results of a national survey

Background Dermatology residents routinely teach junior co-residents and medical students. Despite the importance of teaching skills for a successful academic career, no formal teaching instruction programs for dermatology residents have been described to our knowledge, and the extent of teaching opportunities for dermatology residents is unknown. Objective We sought to describe the range of teaching opportunities and instruction available to dermatology residents and to assess the need for additional teaching training from the perspective of dermatology residency program directors nationwide. Methods A questionnaire was administered to 113 US dermatology residency program directors or their designees. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze questionnaire item responses. Results The response rate was 55% (62/113). All program directors reported that their residents teach; 59% (33/56) reported offering trainees teaching instruction; 11% (7/62) of programs offered a short-term series of formal sessions on teaching; and 7% (4/62) offered ongoing, longitudinal training. Most program directors (74%, 40/54) believed that their residents would benefit from more teaching instruction. Limitations Response rate and responder bias are potential limitations. Conclusion Dermatology residents teach in a broad range of settings, over half receive some teaching instruction, and most dermatology residency program directors perceive a need for additional training for residents as teachers.
PLEASE: The Python Low-energy Electron Analysis SuitE – Enabling Rapid Analysis of LEEM and LEED Data

PLEASE, the Python Low-energy Electron Analysis SuitE, provides an open source and cross-platform graphical user interface (GUI) for rapid analysis and visualization of low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) data sets. LEEM and the associated technique, selected area micro-spot low energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED), are powerful tools for analysis of the surface structure for many novel materials. Specifically, these tools are uniquely suited for the characterization of two-dimensional materials. PLEASE offers a user-friendly point-and-click method for extracting intensity-voltage curves from LEEM and LEED data sets. Analysis of these curves provides insight into the atomic structure of the target material surface with unparalleled resolution.
Normal Limit of the Binomial via the Discrete Derivative

We derive the normal limit to the binomial distribution by looking at the derivative of the distribution function as the change for a unit step as the parameters are blown up in scale. This gives u...
Design and Analysis of a High-Purity Aluminum Inductor

This paper reports on the design and the electromagnetic and thermal analysis of a hydrogen-cooled, high-purity aluminum inductor. The goal of the design is a light-weight coil which utilizes the available liquid hydrogen as coolant. Aluminum was chosen as the conductor material because of its low weight and high RRR at liquid hydrogen temperatures. The conductor consists of a composite aluminum cable which incorporates high-purity aluminum filaments. The cable is spirally wrapped around a 1.8 m diameter, 0.3 m high nonmetallic ring. This geometry was chosen to maximize the heat transfer from the conductor and to ensure an even current distribution. Cooling is provided by liquid hydrogen flowing through the coil. The coil’s field and forces have been analyzed using a three-dimensional electromagnetic model. A detailed thermal analysis of the coil has also been completed.
Word-order variation in natural language generation

In natural language generation the grammatical component has to be systematically interfaced to the other components of the system, for example, the planning component Grammatical formalisms can be studied with respect to their suitability for generation. The tree adjoining grammar (TAG) formalism has been previously studied in terms of incremental generation. In this paper, the TAG formalism has been investigated from the point of view of its ability to handle word-order variation in the context of generation. Word-order cannot be treated as a last minute adjustment of a structure; this position is not satisfactory cognitively or computationally. The grammatical framework has to be able to deal with the word-order phenomena in a way such that it can be systematically interfaced to the other components of the generation system.
Gas Tag Identification of Failed Reactor Assemblies—IV. Analysis Methods

Gas tagging is a method for locating an assembly with breached pin cladding in a liquid-metal-cooled fast reactor. This paper reviews the design considerations and their recent application to a tag design for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project (CRBRP). Previously unreported work on the evaluation of tag ratio changes with reactor burnup is also discussed. A probabilistic method for identifying failed fuel and its implementatin in the failure location code TAFLA (Tagged Assembly Failure Location Analysis) is also summarized. 14 refs.
Rh promoted perovskites for exceptional “low temperature” methane conversion to syngas

Abstract By utilizing lattice oxygen of a reducible metal oxide (a.k.a. redox catalyst), chemical looping reforming (CLR) partially oxidizes methane to syngas without gaseous oxygen. Subsequent to methane partial oxidation (POx), the reduced metal oxide is re-oxidized with air to complete the two-step redox cycle. In essence, CLR accomplishes methane POx without the need for an air separation unit, offering a potentially more efficient route for syngas production. This study investigates Rh promoted and iron/strontium doped CaMnO3 as redox catalysts at relatively low temperatures (
Photo-cross-linked Antibacterial Zein Nanofibers Fabricated by Reactive Electrospinning and its Effects against Streptococcus mutans

Native zein electrospun nanofibers have shown poor solvent resistance and low mechanical strength. Compared to other toxic cross-linkers, a safer method of stabilizing zein based fibers while retaining or with improved mechanical strength is needed to convert these materials for biomedical applications where culture media or body fluids may be present. We report here a method of fabricating non-toxic zein nanofibers using reactive electrospinning coupled with in situ photo-cross-linking. The cross-linked zein nanofibers exhibited significantly improved mechanical strength and sustained morphology against water and aqueous ethanol solution. This process doesn't require additional conventional cross-linking agents to form cross-linking network, which is advantageous for biomedical applications. Antimicrobial monomer with photo-reactive moiety was coupled with methacrylate zein nanofibers and showed strong inhibitory activity against cariogenic Streptococcus mutans. Cytotoxicity test with human gingival fibroblasts revealed high biocompatibility.
Guided tissue regeneration combined with bone allograft in infrabony defects: Clinical outcomes and assessment of prognostic factors

BACKGROUND Clinical data on the outcomes of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is scarce. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the outcomes after GTR, their stability and the survival of the treated teeth with periodontal infrabony defects. METHODS Infrabony defects treated with GTR using a bioabsorbable membrane and a bone graft substitute with at least 1-year follow-up were included. Survival and regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the outcomes, their stability, and the retention of the teeth. The effect of recorded variables on clinical attachment gain (CAL) and tooth survival were assessed via Cox proportional-hazards models and multivariate generalized linear models. RESULTS One hundred seventy-five treated defects were selected from a total of 641 charts. The average follow-up was 5.75 ± 4.6 years. At baseline, the mean CAL was 9.56 ± 1.93 mm with a mean pocket depth (PD) of 8.41 ± 1.42 mm. At the 1-year post-surgical recall, 3.55 ± 1.85 mm of CAL gain and 3.87 ± 1.87 mm PD reduction were observed (P < 0.05). The 5- and 10-year survival rates of the treated teeth were 85.0% and 72.7%, respectively. Baseline PD, smoking, and membrane exposure were significantly related to CAL gain, whereas baseline CAL, age, frequency in maintenance visits significantly affected tooth survival. CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, data suggests GTR is a good option for the treatment of infrabony defects because it can improve both tooth retention rate and overall clinical outcomes.
A study of the reproducibility of data from steady-state tests in simulated liquid-metal fast breeder reactor fuel assemblies

Data from steady-state tests in the ThermalHydraulic Out-of-Reactor Safety (THORS) facility, a large loop for testing simulated liquid metal fast breeder reactor fuel bundles at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, were examined to determine whether the results from tests at similar conditions in the same bundle are reproducible. Comparisons of different tests at similar powers and coolant flows were made for several THORS bundles. The results show that the data were in fact reproducible and can be used with confidence by analysts to quantify computer codes and models.
6 – Initial conditions

Publisher Summary Before solving the equations governing perturbations around a smooth background, one needs to know the initial conditions. This quest for initial conditions may lead to an entirely new realm of physics, the theory of inflation. Inflation was introduced partly to explain how regions with no casual contact with each other have the same temperature. It was soon realized that the very mechanism that explains the uniformity of the temperature in the universe can also account for the origin of perturbations in the universe. Therefore, to produce a set of initial conditions, one needs to detour into the world of inflation. It is very difficult to test a theory based on energy scales well beyond the reach of accelerators. Nonetheless, it is by far the most plausible explanation. Indeed, one of the current problems in cosmology is that there is really no viable alternative to inflation. Also, the next generation of cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure observations will put inflation to some stringent tests.