cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IR-783 Labeling of a Peptide Receptor for ‘Turn-On’ Fluorescence Based Sensing

In this study, we examine a means for developing near-IR fluorescent sensors through streamlined, site-specific coupling with peptide-based receptors. As the penultimate step of solid-phase synthesis of a peptide-based receptor, we show a simple means of labeling the N' terminus with the near IR fluorophore IR-783 to afford a viable fluorescent sensor after cleavage from the resin. The proof-of-concept probe utilized a biotin mimetic peptide sequence as the receptive moiety. Here we revealed a "turn-on" fluorescence enhancement upon binding of the biotin mimetic probe to its intended streptavidin target. Not all peptide-receptive moieties tested were able to generate such an enhancement upon target binding, and as such, the rationale for the observed fluorescence response properties is discussed.
The Sociohistorical Context of a Mormon Fundamentalist Polygamous Life

In this chapter, I explore the life stories of Emma, Sarah, and Mary within the sociohistorical context of their polygamous backgrounds. In this study, I explore readiness for higher education across the data, to understand how the sociohistorical context of a polygamous life impacts readiness for higher education. Clear themes emerged across the data that informed understanding of each of the themes that emerged through exploration of each woman’s life stories: experience with academic settings, perceptions of a need for education, non-academic experiences that contributed to readiness for higher education settings, and an independent self-concept. Understanding the patriarchal nature of polygamous communities provides additional insight that helps to understand the impact of a polygamous life on the participant’s readiness for higher education.
Soybean Aphid Efficacy Screening Program, 2015

Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, has drastically changed soybean pest management in the North Central region. To date, SBA can be successfully managed by timely scouting and foliar insecticides. Host plant resistance is the newest soybean aphid management tool and is complementary to existing chemical control. In 2015, we established plots at two Iowa State University Research Farms (Northeast and Northwest) on 27 May and 27 May, respectively. NK S25-E5 soybean variety was used for all the soybean aphid-susceptible treatments, and 28ARC5 soybean variety was used for the Rag2 -containing treatments. Plots were arranged in an RCB design with four replications. Each plot was six rows in width and 50 ft in length at the Northeast location and six rows in width by 44 ft in length at the Northwest location. Treatments containing …
SURGICAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH ANOMALOUS AORTIC ORIGIN OF CORONARY ARTERY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Anomalous Aortic origin of Coronary Artery (AAOCA) can be life threatening and surgical intervention maybe indicated. A systematic review was done to assess symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) pre and post-surgery A review of articles from 1998-2018 was done with key words AAOCA,
Can High Dynamic Range Images Help Lighting Design Analysis: Results of a Survey

This study conducted a questionnaire survey to evaluate the usefulness of an emerging camera- and computer-aided graphic analytic method to help designers improve lighting design analysis. This imaging method uses high dynamic range (HDR) photography to capture millions of luminance values across an interior or exterior space, and then plot HDR luminance and luminance gradient maps in MATLAB for further evaluation of the luminous environment. The questionnaire was taken online by 40 lighting designers in the field without prior experience of using HDR photography. Their anonymous responses were collected online and analyzed. It was found that experienced lighting designers who have empirical design insights gained over years of field practice do not rely on the information revealed on the HDR images. However, the HDR imaging method could be a useful tool for trained beginners to assist in their design practice to evaluate a luminous environment.
The legacy and promise of heterogeneous selective oxidation and ammoxidation catalysis

Abstract This contribution is a brief technology retrospective but mostly a look forward at the trajectory of technology development for the manufacture of acrylonitrile. An analysis is presented for the criteria that would enable the displacement of the current dominant commercial SOHIO Process for selective propylene ammoxidation catalysis. These criteria reveal that significant opportunity exists for both fundamental and applied research directed toward the design of new catalysts for the current commercially dominant propylene ammoxidation process but also for novel catalysts that can enable the use of lower cost feedstocks for acrylonitrile manufacture. These feedstocks include propane and biomass derived sources. The ability to retrofit a new catalyst technology into existing propylene ammoxidation plant infrastructure is likely key to achieve displacement cost advantage of the magnitude that was realized by propylene ammoxidation catalysis decades earlier.
Improving access to genetic counseling services in an adolescent and young adult (AYA) clinic.

e13009Background: Numerous studies have explored genetic testing access and benefits in adult and pediatric cancer patients, however little is known about the use of these services in adolescents a...
Patient and Medical Education on Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Millions of Americans use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, often in the absence of scientific evidence of their safety and effectiveness and, in many cases, with-out including a medical professional in the decision-making process (1). Depending on how broadly one defines it, between 36 and 62% of the US population now relies on some form of CAM (2). Although annual visits to CAM practitioners now out-number visits to primary care physicians (3), only 12% of those using CAM therapies seek them through certified or licensed CAM practitioners (4). CAM users are usually paying out of pocket, using one or more alternative therapies on a regular basis in combination with prescription medications, and generally not discussing their CAM use with their physicians (5).
Early Life Nutrient Intake Is Associated with Weight-for-Length Z-Scores at 3 and 12 Months (P11-127-19)

Rapid weight gain over the first 12 months of life is a risk factor for childhood obesity. While macronutrient concentrations in human milk (HM) or infant formula (IF) have been associated with rapid weight gain or weight-for-length Z-scores later in infancy, few studies evaluate milk intake. Therefore, the objective was to assess how nutrient intake at 6 weeks of age, across multiple feeding modes, influences growth over the first year of life. Data were collected from 222 healthy mother-infant pairs enrolled in the STRONG Kids 2 Cohort. Twenty-four hour test weighing was conducted to measure milk intake volume and a human milk sample was collected at 6 weeks postpartum. Milk samples were analyzed for total protein (Bradford assay), fat (total lipid extraction), and carbohydrate (Orcinol assay). Mode of feeding at 6 weeks, servings per day of HM and/or IF, and formula type were reported by mothers. For exclusively breastfeeding infants, HM macronutrient concentrations and total intake were used to calculate nutrient intake. For those receiving IF, the numbers of feedings from HM and/or from IF and formula nutrition information were also used to calculate nutrient intake. Infant length and weight collected at study visits were used to calculate weight-for-length Z-scores (WFL-Z). Mixed linear models were used to measure associations between macronutrient intake, total calories, total milk intake and WFL-Z at 3 months and 12 months of age. Models were controlled for 6-week feeding mode, breastfeeding duration, and timing of solid food introduction. At 3 months, WFL-Z was associated with total milk (P = 0.03) and caloric intake (P = 0.03) as well as intake of fat (P = 0.02), carbohydrate (P = 0.05), and protein (P = 0.03). WFL-Z at 12 months was associated with protein (P = 0.02) and fat (P = 0.04) intakes at 6 weeks but no longer associated with other measures of nutrient intake. Our results support previous findings suggesting that high protein intake in infancy contributes to obesity risk. While milk intake was only quantified once, data show that nutrient intake at 6 weeks-of-age influences future growth. More research is needed to understand other lifestyle and nutritional factors between 3 and 12 months that contribute to growth trajectories and weight during infancy. National Dairy Council, NIH RO1DK107561, The Gerber Foundation, The Doris Kelley Christopher Foundation.
De novo CD5+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, NOS: clinical characteristics and outcomes in rituximab era.

AbstractCD5+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), NOS represents a distinct subset of DLBCL associated with poorer outcomes and extranodal disease. We analyzed characteristics and outcomes for 10...
All in the $$C^*$$ family

The $$C^*$$ scheme of Eurocrypt 88 is the progenitor of all of the so called “big field” schemes of multivariate cryptography. The introduction, primarily by Patarin, of the numerous modifiers of multivariate schemes have produced several variants that stay faithful to the central structure of the original. From the tumultuous history of $$C^*$$ derivatives we now see only a very few survivors in the cryptonomy. In this work, we revisit the roots of multivariate cryptography, investigating the viability of $$C^*$$ schemes, in general, under the entire multidimensional array of the principal modifiers. We reveal that there is a nontrivial space of combinations of modifiers that produce viable schemes resistant to all known attacks. This solution space of seemingly secure $$C^*$$ variants offers trade-offs in multiple dimensions of performance, revealing a family that can be optimized for disparate applications.
Wind-induced response characteristics of a yawed and inclined cable in ABL wind: Experimental- and numerical-model based study

Abstract Inclined cables used in bridges or other infrastructures are vulnerable to unsteady wind-induced loads producing moderate- to large-amplitude vibration that may result in damage or failure of the cables, resulting in catastrophic failure of the structure they secure. In the present study, wind-induced response of an inclined smooth cable was studied through wind tunnel measurements using a flexible cable model for a better understanding of the vibration characteristics of structural cables in atmospheric boundary layer wind. For this purpose, in-plane and out-of-plane responses of a sagged and a non-sagged flexible cable were recorded by four accelerometers. Four cases with different yaw and inclination angles of a cable with approximate sag ratios of 1/10 were studied to investigate the wind directionality effect on its excitation mode(s) and response amplitude. Cable tension was also measured during all experiments to assess the correlation of wind speed, excitation vibration mode, and natural frequency of the cable with change in cable tension. Additionally, two inclined cables with no sag were tested to determine the influence of sag of a cable on its vibration characteristics. In the second part of this study, a series of finite element analyses were conducted to predict the wind-induced aerodynamic damping of an inclined bridge cable. Experimental results showed that excitation mode(s) of a cable depend on wind speed, inclination angle, and sag ratio and cable tension. First, second, and third vibration modes were observed at a low wind speed for different test cases, whereas higher vibration modes were observed to contribute to the cable response at high wind speeds. Moreover, it was seen that the cable tension significantly increased with wind speed resulting in increased value of the excited natural frequency. Numerical results obtained through finite element analysis of an inclined full-scale cable showed that the criteria that are based on section models can underestimate the critical reduced velocity for dry cable galloping.
It is all relative: population estimates enhance kin recognition in the guppy

Kin recognition plays a fundamental role in social evolution, enabling active inbreeding avoidance, nepotism, and promoting cooperative social organization. Many organisms recognize kin based on phenotypic similarity, a process called phenotype matching, by comparing information associated with their own phenotype against the phenotypes of conspecifics. However, recent theory demonstrates that to accurately judge phenotypic similarity (and hence, relatedness), individuals require estimates of the population distribution of phenotypes as a frame of reference. Here, I use the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) to provide the first empirical test of this population estimation theory. I varied the phenotypic distributions of the groups in which focal individuals developed and found that, as adults, their patterns of inbreeding avoidance and nepotistic intrasexual competition differed as predicted by population estimation theory. Individuals reared with conspecifics more similar to themselves treated novel conspecifics as less closely related, suggesting a shifted population estimate. Individuals reared with more phenotypically variable conspecifics exhibited less extreme kin discrimination, suggesting a broader population estimate. These results provide experimental evidence that population estimates inform phenotype matching, and are acquired plastically through social experience. By calibrating phenotype matching to the population distribution of phenotypes, population estimation enhances kin recognition, increasing opportunities for the evolution of inbreeding avoidance and nepotism.
Small RNA sequencing of extracellular vesicles identifies circulating miRNAs related to inflammation and oxidative stress in HIV patients

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized particles secreted by most cells. EVs carry nucleic acids that hold promise as potential biomarkers in various diseases. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infects CD4+ T cells and induces immune dysfunction, inflammation, and EV secretion, but little is known about EV small RNA cargo in relation to immune dysregulation in HIV-infected individuals. Here, we characterize small RNA carried by circulating EVs in HIV-positive subjects on antiretroviral therapy (ART) relative to uninfected controls by next-generation RNA sequencing. Plasma EVs isolated from HIV-positive and HIV-negative subjects in test (n = 24) and validation (n = 16) cohorts were characterized by electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and immunoblotting for exosome markers. EVs were more abundant in plasma from HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative subjects. Small RNA sequencing of plasma EVs in the test cohort identified diverse small RNA species including miRNA, piRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, tRNA, and rRNA, with miRNA being the most abundant. A total of 351 different miRNAs were detected in plasma EVs, with the top 50 miRNAs accounting for 90% of all miRNA reads. miR-26a-5p was the most abundant miRNA, followed by miR-21-5p and miR-148-3p. qRT-PCR analysis showed that six miRNAs (miR-10a-5p, − 21-5p, −27b-3p, − 122-5p, −146a-5p, − 423-5p) were significantly increased in plasma EVs from HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative subjects in the validation cohort. Furthermore, miR-21-5p, −27b-3p, −146a-5p, and − 423-5p correlated positively with metabolite markers of oxidative stress and negatively with anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fatty acids. Over-representation and pathway enrichment analyses of miRNAs and their target genes predicted functional association with oxidative stress responses, interferon gamma signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, TGF beta signaling, and Notch signaling. HIV-positive individuals on ART have increased abundance of circulating EVs carrying diverse small RNAs, with miRNAs being the most abundant. Several miRNAs associated with inflammation and oxidative stress are increased in circulating EVs of HIV-positive individuals, representing potential biomarkers of targetable pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis.
U.S. Exports of Water Filtration and Purification Equipment Show Significant Growth

U.S. exports of water filtration and purification equipment reached $1.8 billion in 2011, increasing by 20 percent since 2007 and by 110 percent since 2002, with Asia the leading export destination. Due to insufficient availability of water, rising incidence of extreme weather events, and increasing global demand for water resulting from demographic shifts, urbanization, and industrialization, U.S. exports of water treatment equipment are expected to remain high.
The Association between Pathologic Complete Response after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Postoperative Complications

Introduction With growing interest in the watch-and-wait strategy, the benefits of avoiding surgery and its complications must be weighed against possible recurrence and need for salvage surgery. However, the relationship between pathologic complete response (pCR) and postoperative complications has not been well established. Methods This is a retrospective study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Proctectomy and Colectomy Procedure-Targeted databases from 2016 to 2018. The association between pCR and major complications, sepsis, anastomotic leak or organ space infection, return to the operating room, or septic shock was analyzed. Results A total of 3,878 rectal cancer patients who received chemotherapy or radiation therapy within 90 days of surgery were included in this study. The pCR rate was 12.8%. There was no statistically significant association between pCR and major complications (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.48, p = 0.12) after risk adjustment. Those with pCR had no statistically significant association with anastomotic leak or organ space infection, return to the operating room, or septic shock but had significantly lower odds of sepsis (adjusted OR = 0.42, p = 0.03). Conclusions It is reassuring that pCR is not associated with postoperative complications and that those with pCR are less likely to have postoperative sepsis after risk adjustment since postoperative sepsis after rectal surgery has been associated with poorer oncologic outcomes.
Time Series Clustering and Classification

The book is a part of the Computer Science and Data Analysis series, and is focused on clustering and classification techniques with application to time series. It comprises the research worth of 2...
End-to-end Bayesian analysis for summarizing sets of radiocarbon dates

Abstract Archaeologists and demographers increasingly employ aggregations of published radiocarbon (14C) dates as demographic proxies summarizing changes in human activity in past societies. Presently, summed probability densities (SPDs) of calibrated radiocarbon dates are the dominant method of using 14C dates to reconstruct demographic trends. Unfortunately, SPDs are incapable of converging on the distribution that generated a set of radiocarbon measurements, even when the number of observations is large. To overcome this problem, we propose a more principled alternative that combines finite mixture models and end-to-end Bayesian inference. Numerical simulations and an assessment of the statistical identifiability of our method demonstrate that it correctly converges on the generating distribution for two important models, exponentials and finite Gaussian mixtures, at least if the same statistical model is used to fit the data as was used to generate the data. To further validate this approach, we apply it to a set of radiocarbon dates from the Maya city of Tikal. We show that an end-to-end approach reconstructs with high accuracy expert demographic reconstructions based on settlement patterns and ceramics, but with more precise time-resolution and characterization of uncertainty than has heretofore been possible. Future work should consider alternatives to finite Gaussian mixtures for fitting the generating distribution.
Fluency Changes due to Sports-Related Concussion

Background: Alterations in speech have long been identified as indicators of various neurologic conditions including traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurodegenerative diseases, and stroke. TBIs that can be assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale often result in speech symptoms such as dysarthria and occasionally neurogenic stuttering. The manifestation of symptoms including the specific changes in speech occurring in mild TBIs (or concussions) may differ from more severe head injuries. This work aims to compare speech fluency in sport-related concussion to baseline performance as well as non-athlete controls. Methods: A total of 230 Division I student athletes participated in pre-season speech testing. Of these, 12 students (18-22 years) who sustained a concussion also participated in speech testing in the days following diagnosis of concussion. Samples of picture descriptions were independently coded by three trained raters as 17 error types within the three traditional categories of errors defined in fluency analysis (Stuttering-Like Disfluency, Articulation Error, Other Disfluency). Results: Within-subjects analysis comparing the difference in percent error scores at baseline and post-concussion revealed significant differences for interjections (t(11)=-2.678, p .05) or Articulation Error category (t(11)=-0.045, p>.05) was found. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that speech changes occur following mild sports-related concussions. Specifically, the rate of interjections increased in a limited sample of college athletes who sustain a concussion. Changes in additional error types (fillers, pauses) were trending, but were not significant potentially due to the low sample size. Future studies should consider speech as a diagnostic tool for concussion.
Anscombe, Francis John

This entry provides a short biography of Francis John Anscombe who made pioneering contributions to the analysis of outliers, Bayesian statistics, biometrics, quality control, residual analysis, sequential analysis, and statistical computing.
Macromolecules in Elongational Flows: Metastability and Hysteresis

Theoretical [1–7] and experimental [8–9] investigations indicate that dilute solutions of polymers subjected to strong elongational flows undergo a transition from a state in which the macromolecules are in a relatively compact random coil configuration to one in which they are almost fully stretched. While in principle, this coil stretching transition is similar to any other phase transition (in the limit of infinite molecular weight of the polymer), it cannot be treated by the methods of equilibrium statistical mechanics [10], since a salient feature of all the experiments [8,9] is that the time spent by the polymers in the elongational flow field is comparable to their characteristic relaxation time. Thus, one is faced with an intrinsically non-equilibrium situation and in order to analyze the kinetics of the coil stretching transition, one has to rely on methods that were developed in the general context of metastability and nucleation (for systems undergoing first-order phase transitions) [11].
Language Assessment in Practice

Language Assessment in Practice by Lyle Bachman and Adrian Palmer is a defining text within the field of language assessment. With an expected readership of students, language teachers with varying experience, applied linguists, professional language testers, materials developers and textbook writers, Language Assessment in Practice is ambitious at its core. Nonetheless, the authors‘ logical approach and straightforward writing style make this a highly accessible text for all members of its intended audience. In an inviting first chapter titled ―Objectives and Explanations, or why we need another book about language testing,‖ Bachman and Palmer explain their reasons for taking on this project, especially in light of their earlier, formative work Language Testing in Practice (Bachman & Palmer, 1996). Using Bachman‘s articulation of the Assessment Use Argument (AUA) as its organizing theoretical framework, Language Assessment in Practice represents a distinct departure from the earlier text. At nearly twice the number of pages of text (excluding the projects in the final chapters of both books), and incorporating extensive resources available online, this volume represents a significant evolution in the authors‘ thinking about assessment.
Intensity-based hierarchical Bayes method improves testing for differentially expressed genes in microarray experiments

The small sample sizes often used for microarray experiments result in poor estimates of variance if each gene is considered independently. Yet accurately estimating variability of gene expression measurements in microarray experiments is essential for correctly identifying differentially expressed genes. Several recently developed methods for testing differential expression of genes utilize hierarchical Bayesian models to "pool" information from multiple genes. We have developed a statistical testing procedure that further improves upon current methods by incorporating the well-documented relationship between the absolute gene expression level and the variance of gene expression measurements into the general empirical Bayes framework. We present a novel Bayesian moderated-T, which we show to perform favorably in simulations, with two real, dual-channel microarray experiments and in two controlled single-channel experiments. In simulations, the new method achieved greater power while correctly estimating the true proportion of false positives, and in the analysis of two publicly-available "spike-in" experiments, the new method performed favorably compared to all tested alternatives. We also applied our method to two experimental datasets and discuss the additional biological insights as revealed by our method in contrast to the others. The R-source code for implementing our algorithm is freely available at http://eh3.uc.edu/ibmt . We use a Bayesian hierarchical normal model to define a novel Intensity-Based Moderated T-statistic (IBMT). The method is completely data-dependent using empirical Bayes philosophy to estimate hyperparameters, and thus does not require specification of any free parameters. IBMT has the strength of balancing two important factors in the analysis of microarray data: the degree of independence of variances relative to the degree of identity (i.e. t-tests vs. equal variance assumption), and the relationship between variance and signal intensity. When this variance-intensity relationship is weak or does not exist, IBMT reduces to a previously described moderated t-statistic. Furthermore, our method may be directly applied to any array platform and experimental design. Together, these properties show IBMT to be a valuable option in the analysis of virtually any microarray experiment.
From serial loops to parallel execution on distributed systems

Programmability and performance portability are two major challenges in today's dynamic environment. Algorithm designers targeting efficient algorithms should focus on designing high-level algorithms exhibiting maximum parallelism, while relying on compilers and run-time systems to discover and exploit this parallelism, delivering sustainable performance on a variety of hardware. The compiler tool presented in this paper can analyze the data flow of serial codes with imperfectly nested, affine loop-nests and if statements, commonly found in scientific applications. This tool operates as the front-end compiler for the DAGuE run-time system by automatically converting serial codes into the symbolic representation of their data flow. We show how the compiler analyzes the data flow, and demonstrate that scientifically important, dense linear algebra operations can benefit from this analysis, and deliver high performance on large scale platforms.
Inconsistent Jury Verdicts

This article examines United States v. Moran-Toala, 726 F.3d 334 (2d Cir. 2013), to illustrate what happens when a trial judge explicitly instructs a jury that its verdict need not be consistent.
Screening effect on electric field produced by spontaneous polarization in ZnO quantum dot in electrolyte

Voltage-gated ion channels are instrumental in living cells, as they play key roles in processes such as neuronal communication and muscle movement. At any given time, a cell has a specific membrane potential due to the separation of intracellular and extracellular ions such as K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Cl-. When the membrane potential reaches a certain threshold, voltage-gated ion channels open, resulting in the flow of ions across the membrane. Theoretical and experimental studies have suggested that semiconductor nanoparticles with built-in spontaneous polarizations that are in close proximity to these ions channels can generate sufficient electric fields to affect the channels dynamics [1]-[4]. In this work, the calculation of the strength of the electrostatic field produced by ZnO quantum dots due to the spontaneous polarization in a physiological electrolyte and its application on retinal horizontal cells are presented.
PAIRallels: Narratives for Pair Work

Content, language, and communication in a pharmacy course model. TESOL Quarterly, 20, 227-246. Krashen, S.D. (1982). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon Press. Lange, D.L., & Crawford-Lange, L.M. (1984). Doing the unthinkable in the second language classroom: The integration of language and culture. In T.V. Higgs (Ed.), Teaching for proficiency: The organizing principle (pp. 139-177). Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook. Maley, A. (1983). New lamps for old: Realism and surrealism in foreign language teaching. ELT Journal, 37, 295-303. Widdowson, H. (1978). Teaching language as communication. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Intelligent Systems to Support Large-Scale Collective Creative Idea Generation

In recent years, it has become possible for large groups of people to collaborate and generate ideas together in ways that were not possible before. However, the large number of ideas and participants in this setting also pose new challenges in helping people find inspiration from a large pool of ideas, and coordinating the collective effort. My research aims to address the challenges of large scale idea generation platforms by developing methods and systems for helping people make effective use of each other's ideas, and orchestrate collective effort to reduce redundancy and increase the breadth of generated ideas.
Electrostatic and Hydrophobic Interactions during Complex Formation and Electron Transfer in the Ferredoxin/Ferredoxin:NADP+ Reductase System from Anabaena

Transient kinetics and protein-protein binding measurements over a wide range of ionic strength (I) have been used to characterize the interactions occurring during complex formation and electron transfer (et) between recombinant ferredoxin (Fd) and both native and recombinant ferredoxin: NADP{sup +} reductase (FNR) from the cyanobacterium Anabaena. Between I = 12 mM and I = 100 mM, the dissociation constant (K{sub d}) for the complex formed between oxidized Fd and oxidized native FNR increases from 4.5 to 8.1 {mu}M, whereas K{sub d} for the Fd complex with recombinant FNR increases from 0.3 to 3.3 {mu}M. For both pairs of proteins, the ionic strength dependence of k{sub obs} for the et reaction is biphasic. Electrostatic analysis of the kinetic data above I = 100 mM allows a prediction of the ionic strength dependence of the K{sub d} values, if electrostatic interactions are the only determinant of complex stability. The predicted dependence is dramatically larger than the observed one, indicating that hydrophobic interactions make an important contribution to complex stability. The differences in binding between native and recombinant FNR are ascribed to proteolytic cleavage at the N-terminus, which occurs during preparation of the native enzyme and which removes two positively charged residues,more » thereby decreasing the electrostatic interactions with Fd. 39 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less
Robust pressure-actuated liquid metal devices showing reconfigurable electromagnetic effects at GHz frequencies

Pressure-actuated liquid metal devices are demonstrated for reconfigurable electromagnetic fundamentals at GHz frequencies, including tunable dipole antennas, switchable shielding with 35 dB attenuation, ~30 dB polarizer attenuation, and ~40 degree diffraction from a linear grating. In addition to a wide variety of electromagnetic effects, these devices are further advanced by: being highly physically flexible; in use of non-toxic GaInSn (68.5% Ga, 21.5% In, and 10.0% Sn ) alloy as enabled by a sealed closed system with an acidic vapor background; and non-alloying/corrosion-resistant carbon inks for electrical connection. Collectively, this work addresses a wide variety of electromagnetic fundamentals, and the device construction advances required for real-world applications.
Accounting information systems in the framework of living systems theory and research

This paper suggests that general living systems theory (GLST) may provide a conceptual framework to guide practical research on accounting information systems. The accounting information system is described as a subset of the information processing subsystems of GLST, thus demonstrating that research based on GLST may enhance the quality of research on accounting information systems.
Spectra of Schrödinger operators on planar domains with ends with unbounded cross-section

This paper studies the spectral theory of Schrodinger operators on planar domains with ends of increasing cross-section. We consider Dirichlet, Neumann, and certain mixed conditions, and the potentials V satisfy V = o(1) and PV = o(1), where P is a certain vector field determined by the geometry of the end. For a class of domains which includes ((x, y); x > 1, |y| 1, |y| < x p }, with p ∈(0, 3 + √8), Mourre Theory is applied to prove (i) the eigenvalues are of finite multiplicity and can accumulate only at 0 or ∞, (ii) there is no singular continuous spectrum, and (iii) a Limiting Absorption Principle holds away from 0 and the eigenvalues. Under weaker hypotheses on the potential, the results above are shown to hold at higher energies.
Heparin-binding growth factor-I (endothelial cell growth factor) binds to endothelium in vivo.

Abstract Heparin-binding growth factor-I (HBGF-I) produces a significant increase in endothelial cell replication in vitro and may prove useful for endothelial regeneration and endothelial seeding in vivo. Heparin enhances the mitogenic effects of HBGF-I in vitro and may be an important adjunct to its pharmacologic use. Binding studies in the rat were undertaken to determine the feasibility of use of HBGF-I in vivo. For saturation studies, 125 I-labeled HBGF-I was administered intravenously at various concentrations with heparin (approximately 5 U/ml blood volume). Further binding studies were conducted with the use of a constant concentration of 125 I-labeled HBGF-I (40 ng) with or without heparin (2.5 U/ng HBGF-I). In each case, the rat was perfused with ice-cold saline solution 5 minutes after drug administration and the aorta or carotid arteries were harvested. 125 I-labeled HBGF-I with heparin demonstrated saturation binding to rat aortic endothelium at an approximate blood concentration of 10 ng/ml. Scatchard plot analysis of in vivo data revealed a binding constant (K D ) of 1.60 ± 0.004 × 10 −9 mol/L compared with 2 to 8 × 10 −10 mol/L obtained for in vitro binding. Receptor number per cell was approximately 3000 for rat aortic endothelium, compared with a receptor number of 2000 to 20,000 for several endothelial cell lines, including bovine aortic endothelial cells, determined in vitro. 125 I-labeled HBGF-I binding to uninjured rat carotid endothelium was significantly increased (p = 0.0001) by heparin (463 ± 302 cpm to 1172 ± 403 cpm). 125 I-labeled HBGF-I binding to carotid artery denuded of endothelium by balloon injury (2495 ± 510 cpm) was significantly greater than that to uninjured artery (p = 0.0001) but was decreased when 125 I-labeled HBGF-I was injected with heparin (1723 ± 916 cpm, p=0.02). These data indicate that HBGF-I activity in vivo is similar to that demonstrated in vitro and suggest that HBGF-I with heparin may be useful as a pharmacologic agent to accelerate endothelial regeneration. (J VASC SURG 1988;7:311-7.)
Automated crop field extraction from multi-temporal Web Enabled Landsat Data

Abstract An automated computational methodology to extract agricultural crop fields from 30 m Web Enabled Landsat data (WELD) time series is presented. The results for three 150 × 150 km WELD tiles encompassing rectangular, circular (center-pivot irrigation) and irregularly shaped fields in Texas, California and South Dakota are presented and compared to independent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cropland data layer (CDL) classifications. Coherent fields that are visually apparent were extracted with relatively limited apparent errors of omission or commission compared to the CDL classifications. This is due to several factors. First, the use of multi-temporal Landsat data, as opposed to single Landsat acquisitions, that enables crop rotations and inter-annual variability in the state of the vegetation to be accommodated for and provides more opportunities for cloud-free, non-missing and atmospherically uncontaminated surface observations. Second, the adoption of an object-based approach, namely the variational region-based geometric active contour method that enables robust segmentation with only a small number of parameters and that requires no training data. Third, the use of a watershed algorithm to decompose connected segments belonging to multiple fields into coherent isolated field segments and a geometry-based algorithm to detect and associate parts of circular fields together. A preliminary validation is presented to gain quantitative insights into the field extraction accuracy and to prototype a validation protocol including new geometric measures that quantify the accuracy of individual field objects. Implications and recommendations for future research and large-area applications are discussed.
Infrared spectrum of H12C14N and H12C15N

Abstract The high-resolution spectrum of H 12 C 14 N has been measured near 4870 and 6060 cm −1 . The following bands have been identified and analyzed: 01 1 2-00 0 0, 02 0 2-01 1 0, 02 2 2-01 1 0, 04 0 1-00 0 0, 11 1 1-00 0 0, 12 0 1-01 1 0, and 12 2 1-01 1 0. The CN stretching fundamental ( ν 3 ) of H 12 C 15 N has also been measured near 2100 cm −1 . This fundamental is found to be 3 cm −1 higher than previously reported. Other bands that have been identified in the H 12 C 16 N spectrum are 03 1 0-00 0 0, 04 0 0-01 1 0, 04 2 0-01 1 0, and 01 1 1-01 1 0.
Association of HLA-Bw44 with chlorpromazine-induced autoantibodies

Chronic chlorpromazine treatment of psychiatric patients is known to induce elevated IgM levels, and development of antinuclear antibodies and of IgM-lupus anticoagulant. We investigated the possible association of these effects with immune reaction genes in 97 patients chronically treated with chlorpromazine by means of HLA typing. The frequency of HLA-Bw44 was significantly increased among patients who developed autoantibodies (46%) as compared with that of normal caucasians (19%, P < 0.001). The frequency of HLA-Bw44 among the patients without autoantibodies was 21%, similar to the control group. No significant association was found between the presence of autoantibodies or HLA-Bw44 with psychiatric diagnosis.
Particulate Matter Emissions From Late Injection High EGR Low Temperature Diesel Combustion

Low temperature combustion (LTC) is an advanced mode of combustion that has attained much attention due to ever increasing emission standards. LTC simultaneously reduces soot and nitric oxide (NO) emissions by having combustion take place at, for example bulk gas temperatures below 1200K (as observed in this study) so that soot and NO formation is substantially reduced. Soot is typically considered a building block for particulate matter (PM); both PM and NO are heavily regulated emissions by government agencies due to their potential effects on human and environmental health. Although LTC is believed to substantially reduce soot, it is not clear what is the end effect on PM. Because PM is composed of other agents, such as condensed liquid and solid hydrocarbons, there could potentially be non-negligible emission of PM from LTC combustion. This study will compare the gravimetric-based PM data from 3 different modes of combustion in a direct injection diesel engine; specifically: conventional combustion, combustion with high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) at conventional injection timing, and combustion with high EGR and late injection timing (all other control parameters are the same, including fuel flow rate and engine speed). The objective of this study is to quantify PM emissions of LTC and assess potential differences relative to the soot concentration (the latter as assessed by a smokemeter). PM is gravimetrically measured using a mini-dilution tunnel. Further, chemical analysis of the collected PM is analyzed by an independent laboratory to develop an understanding of the constituent species composing conventional and LTC PM. PM results show that there are differences among the three modes of combustion. The PM differs in appearance as well as composition, and due to the change in appearance FSN may not correlate with PM when running LTC modes of combustion.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Neurovirulent strains of Alphavirus induce apoptosis in bcl-2-expressing cells: role of a single amino acid change in the E2 glycoprotein.

Abstract The isolation and sequence comparison of avirulent and neurovirulent strains of polio virus, alpha virus, herpes virus, immunodeficiency virus, and other viruses have identified genetic changes that are required to cause disease in the nervous system. The molecular mechanisms by which these genetic changes result in neurovirulence are unknown. An avirulent laboratory strain of the Alphavirus Sindbis kills most cultured cell lines not by lethal parasitism, but by inducing apoptosis or programmed cell death. Transfection of cultured cells with the human bcl-2 oncogene can block Sindbis virus-induced apoptosis, resulting in a persistent viral infection resembling that observed in brains of immunodeficient mice. We investigated the possibility that neurovirulent strains of Sindbis virus could overcome the protective effects of bcl-2--a potential mechanism to explain the ability of these strains to cause fatal disease. Strains of Sindbis virus that were lethal for 2- to 4-week-old mice induced apoptotic death in cultured cells despite the presence of bcl-2. Using recombinant viruses, we show that a single amino acid change in the E2 glycoprotein of Sindbis virus confers both neurovirulence and the ability to kill cells expressing bcl-2.
Developing a Tutor to Teach Social Skills to Students with Cognitive Disabilities

This research work focuses on developing a software-based tutor to teach social skills to students with cognitive disabilities, and examining the real-world implications of such a tutor. My proposed social tutor, called SAM (social ability modeler), will integrate a computer game-based edutainment platform together with a social interaction environment. The goal of using a computer game-based platform is to enhance the intrinsic motivation of the students, or their natural inclination to use SAM. Numerous prior studies have found that computer games are intrinsically motivating to youth. A growing body of research has also shown that children who are intrinsically motivated will put more effort into learning new material (Lumbsden, 1994). The initial hypothesis is that the capability of a software program to adapt to an individual's particular strengths and weaknesses will enable SAM to support stronger generalization and transfer of learning than traditional SST. However, traditional methods will still, nonetheless, complement SAM's instruction; using SAM in conjunction with traditional methods for teaching social skills rather than alone will likely enhance its effectiveness, reliability, and versatility
Aging analysis for recycled FPGA detection

The counterfeit electronic component industry continues to threaten the security and reliability of systems by infiltrating recycled components into the supply chain. With the increased use of FPGAs in critical systems, recycled FPGAs cause significant concerns for government and industry. In this paper, we propose a two phase detection approach to differentiate recycled (used) FPGAs from new ones. Both approaches rely on machine learning via support vector machines (SVM) for classification. The first phase examines suspect FPGAs “as is” while the second phase requires some accelerated aging. To be more specific, Phase I detects recycled FPGAs by comparing the frequencies of ring oscillators (ROs) distributed on the FPGAs against a golden model. Experimental results on Xilinx FPGAs show that Phase I can correctly classify 8 out of 20 FPGAs under test. However, Phase I fails to detect FPGAs at fast corners and with lesser prior usage. Phase II is then used to compliment Phase I and overcome its limitations. The second phase performs a short aging step on the suspect FPGAs and exploits the aging speed reduction (due to prior usage) to cover the cases missed by Phase I. In our silicon results, Phase II detects all the fresh and recycled FPGAs correctly.
Efficient audit-based compliance for relational data retention

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act inspired research on long-term high-integrity retention of business records, leveraging the immutability guarantees that WORM storage servers offer for files. In this paper, we present the transaction log on WORM (TLOW) approach for supporting long-term immutability for relational tuples. TLOW stores the transaction log on WORM and uses an audit helper (AH) add-on to continuously perform audit-related activities without compromising transaction performance or audit trustworthiness. TLOW imposes only 1-11% runtime overhead on TPC-C transactions, much less than previously proposed approaches, and does not require DBMS kernel changes. TLOW audits are extremely fast, e.g., two hours to audit a year of continuous TPC-C activity, versus 10 days for previously proposed approaches. This opens up the possibility of real-time internal audits that can detect fraudulent activity before its effects propagate throughout an enterprise. We also provide a proof of correctness for TLOW, which exposes a subtle threat that affects the correctness of previously proposed approaches.
Operations planning for a multi-stage kanban system

A multi-stage production line which operates under a just-in-time production philosophy with linear demand is considered here. The first workstation processes the raw materials after receiving them from suppliers, a kanban mechanism between the workstations transports the work-in-process to the succeeding workstation, and after processing them, delivers the finished products to a buyer or a warehouse. The problem is to find optimally the number of raw material orders, kanbans circulated between workstations, finished goods shipments to the buyers, and the batch size for each shipment (lot). A cost function is developed based on the costs incurred due to the raw materials, the work-in-process between workstations, and the finished goods. Optimal number of raw material orders that minimizes the total cost is obtained, which is then used to find the optimal number of kanbans, finished goods shipments, and the batch sizes for shipments. Numerical examples are used to demonstrate the computations of optimal parameters, and to configure the kanban mechanism on a timescale. Several avenues for future research are also indicated.