cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of developmental traits

The evolution of plant development can be studied in many different ways, each of which provides new insights into how plants have been modified over evolutionary time. DNA sequencing shows that most developmental genes are under purifying selection and that obvious adaptive change in proteins is rare. This may indicate that most change occurs in cis-regulatory sequences, that tests for detecting selection lack power, or both. Gene duplications are common and often correlate with divergence of function, as predicted by theory. Studies of gene expression illuminate similarities among structures in disparate plant groups and indicate that the same genes have been deployed repeatedly for similar developmental ends. Comparative functional studies remain uncommon, but promise to illuminate how changing proteins lead to changes in development. Precise characterization of phenotypes by studies of developmental morphology is beginning to occur in some taxonomic groups. The genetic variation necessary for morphological change must originate as allelic polymorphism within populations; such polymorphism has been identified in grasses and in sunflowers, although it is often cryptic.
Chronic up-regulation of the SHH pathway normalizes some developmental effects of trisomy in Ts65Dn mice

Down Syndrome (DS) is a highly complex developmental genetic disorder caused by trisomy for human chromosome 21 (Hsa21). All individuals with DS exhibit some degree of brain structural changes and cognitive impairment; mouse models such as Ts65Dn have been instrumental in understanding the underlying mechanisms. Several phenotypes of DS might arise from a reduced response of trisomic cells to the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) growth factor. If all trisomic cells show a similar reduced response to SHH, then up-regulation of the pathway in trisomic cells might ameliorate multiple DS phenotypes. We crossed Ptch1tm1Mps/+ mice, in which the canonical SHH pathway is expected to be up-regulated in every SHH-responsive cell due to the loss of function of one allele of the pathway suppressor, Ptch1, to the Ts65Dn DS model and assessed the progeny for possible rescue of multiple DS-related phenotypes. Down-regulation of Ptch produced several previously unreported effects on development by itself, complicating interpretation of some phenotypes, and a number of structural or behavioral effects of trisomy were not compensated by SHH signaling. However, a deficit in a nest-building task was partially restored in Ts;Ptch+/- mice, as were the structural anomalies of the cerebellum seen in Ts65Dn mice. These results extend the body of evidence indicating that reduced response to SHH in trisomic cells and tissues contributes to various aspects of the trisomic phenotype.
Personal building controls

Buildings are some of the largest energy consumers in the world and yet occupants are regularly dissatisfied with the interior environment in large part due to thermal discomfort [7]. Studies show that given personal control over their environment, occupants are comfortable in a much larger range of ambient temperatures [2]. We present a personalized control smartphone application designed with the dual goals of increasing occupant comfort and achieving building-wide energy savings.The application allows occupants to directly control the lighting and heating/cooling in their vicinity. Using wireless localization combined with data from existing sensors in the building, we estimate room occupancy and use this to dynamically adjust ventilation and air conditioning to save energy in the building.
Regulation of G-protein-coupled signaling pathways in allergic inflammation

Allergic diseases such as asthma are elicited by maladaptive activation of immune cells such as mast cells and lymphocytes by otherwise innocuous allergens. The numerous mediators secreted by such cells promote both acute inflammation and, in many instances, chronic tissue remodeling. Most of these compounds exert their effects on end-organ targets such as epithelial and endothelial cells and airway smooth muscle by activating G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are by far the most abundant type of cell surface receptor. Since GPCRs are also the most common target of allergy therapeutics, a better understanding of their intracellular signaling mechanisms is vital to improve the efficacy of such drugs or to develop new targets. In this review, we focus on some of the new regulatory elements that control the duration and amplitude of GPCR signal transduction pathways in immune effector cells and end-organ structural cells affected by allergic inflammation.
Transient Kinetics of Formation and Reaction of the Uridylyl-Enzyme Form of Galactose-1-P Uridylyltransferase and Its Q168R-Variant: Insight into the Molecular Basis of Galactosemia†

Galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase catalyzes the reaction of UDP-glucose with galactose 1-phosphate (Gal-1-P) to form UDP-galactose and glucose 1-phosphate (Glc-1-P) through a double displacement mechanism, with the intermediate formation of a covalent uridylyl-enzyme (UMP enzyme). Gln 168 in E. coli uridylyltransferase engages in hydrogen bonding with the phosphoryl oxygens of the UMP moiety, which is bonded to His 166 in the intermediate [Wedekind, J. E., Frey, P. A., and Rayment, I. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 11560−11569]. In humans, the point variant Q188R accounts for 60% of galactosemia cases. The corresponding E. coli variant Q168R has been overexpressed and purified. In preparation for kinetic correlation of Q168R and wild-type uridylyltransferases, we tested the kinetic competence of the wild-type UMP-enzyme. At 4 °C, the first-order rate constant for uridylylation by UDP-glucose is 281 ± 18 s-1, and for deuridylylation it is 226 ± 10 s-1 with Glc-1-P and 166 ± 10 s-1 with Gal-1-P. Inasmuch a...
Congestion avoidance in computer networks

The letter presents simulation results for four different schemes of isarithmic congestion avoidance in computer networks. These schemes differ in their methods of distribution of permits among nodes of a computer network. Some simulation results are presented for all these schemes, in terms of throughput and delay for a 10-node network. These results reveal a few interesting properties of various schemes.
Antecedents of Rural Adolescent Alcohol Use: A Risk Factor Approach.

The present study examines the association between risk factors and alcohol use for a sample of young adolescents in a rural eastern community. Family relations, family structure, marks in school, participation in academic activities, frequency of church attendance, and deviant behavior were found to be significantly associated with alcohol use two years later. No gender or age differences were found in these predictors of alcohol use. These six risk variables were combined to form a risk index. A 3 × 2 × 2 (User group by Gender by Grade) ANOVA was used to examine the association between the risk index score at Year 1 and level of alcohol use at Year 3. Only the main effect for User group was significant. Thus, the number of risk factors at Year 1 was predictive of alcohol use at Year 3. The risk index also predicted frequency of alcohol use in a replication sample. Implications for the risk factor approach, prevention, and intervention are discussed.
An empirical investigation of the contribution of IS to manufacturing productivity

Abstract Next to the financial sector, the manufacturing industry is the second largest investor in information systems (IS) and technologies (IT). However, in recent years, many CEOs have expressed skepticism and disappointment on the returns from investments in IS. There is reluctance on the part of these CEOs to continue to invest in IS because of a nagging feeling that existing systems are often under-utilized. The dissatisfaction of CEOs with returns on them combined with the suspicion that existing IS are under-utilized clearly has serious implications for the IS community. Using empirical survey data of small and large manufacturing firms in the electronic industry, this paper investigates whether, in fact, IS are under-utilized and, if so, explores the underlying reasons for this situation. In particular, we explore the differences, if any, between small and large manufacturing firms in their ability to deploy and utilize IS to achieve organizational excellence.
Discussion of: “Testing behavioral finance theories using trends and sequences in financial performance,” (by Wesley Chan, Richard Frankel, and S.P. Kothari)☆

Abstract Chan, Frankel, and Kothari (CFK) present new empirical evidence which they argue rules out a broad class of behavioral models as potentials explanations of long-horizon return predictability. I provide a different interpretation of their findings. The CFK evidence and other extant empirical evidence is inconsistent with investor misinterpretation of earnings information as a source a long-horizon predictability, as CFK claim. However, this evidence points to misinterpretation of non-accounting based information as a source of the predictability. This type of predictability is consistent with the predictions of other behavioral models, such as that of Daniel, Hirshleifer and Subrahmanyam (1998).
Regulatory effects of TLR2 on megakaryocytic cell function

TLR2, a functional, inflammatory-related receptor, is known to be expressed on megakaryocytes and platelets and to lead to infection and immune-mediated activation of platelets; however, the role of this receptor in megakaryocytes is not understood. Using Meg-01 cells and mouse megakaryocytes, we found that NFκB, ERK-MAPK, and PI3K/Akt pathways, known downstream pathways of TLRs, are activated by Pam3CSK4, a TLR2-specific ligand. In addition, transcription factors associated with megakaryocyte maturation, GATA-1, NF-E2, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), are all increased in the presence of Pam3CSK4. The effect of Pam3CSK4 on megakaryocyte maturation was verified by the increase in DNA content and adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins by TLR2-dependent stimulation. In addition, TLR2 stimulation resulted in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Gene expression and protein levels of GP1b, CD41, MCP-1, COX2, NFκB1, and TLR2 were up-regulated in megakaryocytes after TLR2 stimulation through NFκB, PI3K/Akt, and ERK-MAPK pathways. Treatment of wild-type mice with Pam3CSK4 resulted in a return to normal platelet levels and an increase in megakaryocyte maturation, which did not occur in the TLR2−/− mice. Therefore, inflammation, through TLR2, can increase maturation and modulate the phenotype of megakaryocytes, contributing to the interrelationship between inflammation and hemostasis.
Systems biology approach to stage-wise characterization of epigenetic genes in lung adenocarcinoma

Epigenetics refers to the reversible functional modifications of the genome that do not correlate to changes in the DNA sequence. The aim of this study is to understand DNA methylation patterns across different stages of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Our study identified 72, 93 and 170 significant DNA methylated genes in Stages I, II and III respectively. A set of common 34 significant DNA methylated genes located in the promoter section of the true CpG islands were found across stages, and these were: HOX genes, FOXG1, GRIK3, HAND2, PRKCB, etc. Of the total significant DNA methylated genes, 65 correlated with transcription function. The epigenetic analysis identified the following novel genes across all stages: PTGDR, TLX3, and POU4F2. The stage-wise analysis observed the appearance of NEUROG1 gene in Stage I and its re-appearance in Stage III. The analysis showed similar epigenetic pattern across Stage I and Stage III. Pathway analysis revealed important signaling and metabolic pathways of LUAD to correlate with epigenetics. Epigenetic subnetwork analysis identified a set of seven conserved genes across all stages: UBC, KRAS, PIK3CA, PIK3R3, RAF1, BRAF, and RAP1A. A detailed literature analysis elucidated epigenetic genes like FOXG1, HLA-G, and NKX6-2 to be known as prognostic targets. Integrating epigenetic information for genes with expression data can be useful for comprehending in-depth disease mechanism and for the ultimate goal of better target identification.
Emergent bucket brigading: a simple mechanisms for improving performance in multi-robot constrained-space foraging tasks

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Response plasticity in primary visual cortex and its role in vision and visuomotor behavior: Bottom-up and top-down influences

Neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) have been traditionally considered to respond exclusively and steadily to the physical properties of visual stimuli presented within their receptive fields. Indeed, since V1 neurons are mainly involved in processing elementary features of visual stimuli such as orientation or direction of motion, they were long believed to possess stable or unchanging properties. However, another view has emerged in the past 15 years. According to this view, V1 responses are strongly influenced by the history of visual stimulation. Such response changes can be driven by properties of previously viewed visual stimuli (bottom up changes), or by aspects of internal state, including an internal representation of previous stimuli (top-down changes). In effect, the temporal content of visual stimulation results in short term experience-dependent plasticity in local as well as distributed cortical circuits, and these changes are manifest as changes in neuronal responses, visual perceptio...
Computation of through-space NMR shielding effects by small-ring aromatic and antiaromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract The GIAO-HF method in Gaussian 03 was employed to calculate the isotropic NMR shielding values of a diatomic hydrogen probe above simple small-ring aromatic and antiaromatic hydrocarbons, including neutral and ionic examples. Subtraction of the isotropic shielding of diatomic hydrogen by itself allowed the prediction of through-space proton NMR shielding increment surfaces for these systems. Substantial shielding was observed above the center of aromatic rings, regardless of whether the ring was π-aromatic or σ-aromatic, and also regardless of the charge. In sharp contrast, deshielding was observed above the center of antiaromatic rings, regardless of whether the ring was π-aromatic or σ-aromatic, and also regardless of the charge. Shielding increment values at 2.5 A above the ring centers were compared to NICS values at the same position. The shielding effects predicted by using diatomic hydrogen as a computational probe are diagnostic of whether a structure possesses aromaticity or antiaromaticity.
Phase separation of rat intestinal brush border membrane proteins using triton X-114

Rat intestinal microvillus membrane contains at least 24 polypeptides, of which 18 can be solubilized using Triton X-114 at 4 degrees C. Upon phase separation at 32 degrees C, 11 proteins separated nearly completely into the detergent-rich phase, while 9 proteins were found exclusively in the aqueous phase. Enzymes which were uniquely included in the detergent phase were alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase. The proteins which were excluded from the detergent phase and found exclusively in the aqueous phase included the disaccharidases (glucoamylase, sucrase-isomaltase, trehalase, lactase) and the ileal receptor for the intrinsic factor-cobalamin complex. Integral membrane proteins can thus be separated during solubilization into two groups prior to further purification or characterization.
On the □-condition

In [5], XI, S. Shelah formulated a condition on forcing notion ( -condition) which implies that the forcing it satisfies does not add reals. It was proved that, under some additional demands, this condition is preserved by revised countable support iterations. We are going to show that these demands can be weakened. A few examples of simple forcing notions that can iterate while preserving the-condition, and hence without adding reals, are presented.
Programmed student achievement: A Hawthorne Effect?

Three groups of college students were given instructions using different testing techniques to determine whether the superior performance obtained with Programmed Student Achievement (PA) was due to a Hawthorne Effect. PA students, operating under the consequence of failing the course if they failed to evidence criterion performance (100% mastery) on weekly quizzes, exhibited superior performance, relative to control groups, on the weekly quizzes and on an unannounced retention test. The results seem to preclude any attempt to interpret the effectiveness of Programmed Student Achievement on the basis of a Hawthorne Effect.
Middlemen as guarantors of quality

Abstract We analyze an experience good model with producer moral hazard which is based on Shapiro ( Quarterly Journal of Economics , 1983, 98, 659–679). We develop conditions under which a good will be sold through a middleman instead of being sold directly by the producer when selling costs may even be increased by the presence of middlemen. Middlemen help to alleviate the producer moral hazard problem by dropping a producer's good, and lowering her future sales, if the good is not of its claimed quality. The middleman engages in this policing activity in order to maintain his own reputation as a seller of high quality goods.
Do emotional appeals work for services

Despite a growing interest in services marketing as a research topic, the communication of service quality is relatively unexplored. The goal of this study was to shed some light on the relative effectiveness of emotional versus rational appeals in advertising services to potential new customers. Moreover, there was a desire to explore the impact of the following cues on post‐exposure attitude toward an unfamiliar service brand: employees or customers portrayed in the advertisement, pricing information and documentation strategy emphasizing service excellence. The results of this quasi‐experimental study suggest that appealing to a novice consumer’s emotional responses may be highly desirable in terms of creating a favourable attitude toward a service brand. Advertisement‐invoked emotions appear to strongly influence postexposure attitudes and service quality expectations among consumers with limited personal experiences with a service category. Finally, the findings of this study suggest that employing t...
L subshell ratios of pure E2 transitions

Abstract The measurement of L subshell intensity ratios has become a powerful tool for the determination of multipole orders and mixing ratios of nuclear transitions. A literature search [3] revealed that prior to 1963 the accuracy, in general, was 20–40% which is not a critical test of theory. Moreover, recent accurate studies [4] of L subshell ratios to determine the M1-E2 mixing ratios have revealed differences between the theoretical tabulations [1, 2] and between the mixing parameters obtained. Thus a closer study of the pure multipoles as a critical test is important.
Immigration Restriction in the States: Contesting the Boundaries of Federalism?

Recent disputes over possible state preemption of federal immigration authority reflect the rise of a coalition that has sought to use state policy to restrict immigration nationwide. The advance of this restrictionist agenda, and the potential for conflicts over federalism, primarily reflect advocates’ ability to wrest control of state Republican parties from interests that favor access to immigrant labor. Direct democracy has played a supportive role by facilitating innovations that could be diffused. Four cases illustrate the restrictionist coalition’s influence on state policy, from domination of the policy agenda in Arizona, to more limited influence in North Carolina, Texas, and Florida. These latter three states suggest substantial barriers to the spread of state immigration policies that challenge federal authority.
Radiation-Hard ZnO Thin Film Transistors

We report effects for up to 100 Mrad ( ${{\rm SiO}_2}$ ) gamma-ray exposure on polycrystalline ZnO thin film transistors (TFTs) deposited by two different techniques. The radiation related TFT changes, either with or without electrical bias during irradiation, are primarily a negative ${{\rm V}_{\rm ON}}$ shift and a smaller ${{\rm V}_{\rm T}}$ shift ( $\Delta {{\rm V}_{\rm ON}}\sim - 2.5~\hbox{V}$ and $\Delta {{\rm V}_{\rm T}}\sim - 1.5~\hbox{V}$ for 100 Mrad ( ${{\rm SiO}_2}$ ) exposure). Field-effect mobility remains nearly unchanged. Both, ${{\rm V}_{\rm ON}}$ and ${{\rm V}_{\rm T}}$ shifts are nearly completely removed by annealing at $200^\circ {\rm C}$ for 1 minute and some recovery is seen even at room temperature. We find that our ZnO TFTs are insensitive to electrical bias during irradiation; that is, unbiased measurements are useful worst case test results. To the best of our knowledge, these are the most radiation-hard thin film transistors reported to date.
Use of active ingredient information for low socioeconomic status parents' decision-making regarding cough and cold medications: role of health literacy.

Abstract Objective Parent administration of multiple medications with overlapping active ingredients places children at risk for overdose. We sought to examine how parents use active ingredient information as part of the process of selecting a cough/cold medication for their child and how health literacy plays a role. Methods Experimental study of parents of children presenting for care in an urban public hospital pediatric clinic. Parents were asked to determine which of 3 cough/cold medications could be given to relieve a child's cold symptoms, as part of a scenario in which they had already given a dose of acetaminophen; only 1 did not contain acetaminophen. Primary dependent variable: correct selection of cough/cold medication by using active ingredient as the rationale for choice. Primary independent variable: parent health literacy (Newest Vital Sign test). Results Of 297 parents, 79.2% had low health literacy (Newest Vital Sign score 0–3); 35.4% correctly chose the cough/cold medication that did not contain acetaminophen. The proportion of those who made the correct choice was no different than expected from chance alone (Goodness of fit test; χ 2 = 2.1, P = .3). Only 7.7% chose the correct medication and used active ingredient as the rationale. Those with adequate literacy skills were more likely to have selected the correct medication and rationale (25.8% vs 3.0% ( P = .001); adjusted odds ratio 11.1 (95% confidence interval 3.6–33.7), after we adjusted for sociodemographics, including English proficiency and education. Conclusions Many parents, especially those with low health literacy, do not use active ingredient information as part of decision-making related to administering multiple medications.
Effects of lead and exercise on endurance and learning in young herring gulls.

In this paper, we report the use of young herring gulls, Larus argentatus, to examine the effect of lead and exercise on endurance, performance, and learning on a treadmill. Eighty 1-day-old herring gull chicks were randomly assigned to either a control group or a lead treatment group that received a single dose of lead acetate solution (100 mg/kg) at day 2. Controls were injected with an equal volume of isotonic saline at the same age. Half of the lead treatment group and half of the control group were randomly assigned to an exercise regime of walking on a treadmill twice each day. The other group remained in their cages. We test the null hypotheses that neither lead nor exercise affected performance of herring gull chicks when subsequently tested on the treadmill at 7, 11, and 17 days post-injection. Performance measures included latency to orient forward initially, to move continuously, forward on the treadmill, and to avoiding being bumped against the back of the test chamber. Also measured were the number of calls per 15 s, and the time to tire out. Latency to face forward and avoiding being bumped against the back of the test chamber were measures of learning, and time to tire out was a measure of endurance. We found significant differences as a function of lead, exercise, and their interaction, and rejected the null hypotheses. For all measures of behavior and endurance, lead had the greatest contribution to accounting for variability. In general, lead-treated birds showed better performance improvement from the daily exercise than did controlled non-lead birds, with respect to endurance and learning. We suggest that in nature, exercise can improve performance of lead-exposed birds by partially mitigating the effects of lead, thereby increasing survival of lead-impaired chicks.
Why the Electoral College Is Bad for America

Why the Electoral College Is Bad for America. By George C. Edwards III. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2004. 224p. $26.00.George Edwards has filled the breech created by the recent death of Lawrence Longley as a powerful voice within political science opposing the electoral college. In the foreword, Longley's longtime associate, Neal Peirce, notes that one of the great puzzles of the 2000 presidential election was that it failed to prompt a massive public outcry against the system that elevated George W. Bush to the presidency, despite Al Gore's 539,893 positive margin in popular votes. Another great puzzle is the lack of any consensus among political scientists on the issue, as described in Choosing a President (2002), edited by Burdett Loomis and myself.
Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for selected central tumours: Omitting the bolster

OBJECTIVE To describe an alternative technique of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for selected central tumours that avoids bolstered renorrhaphy, LPN for such tumours often requires a substantial resection, including collecting-system entry, and renal reconstruction typically requires oversuturing the tumour defect and bolstered renorrhaphy, increasing the warm ischaemia time. PATIENTS AND METHODS After excising the tumour, the tumour bed defect in 23 selected patients was closed with intraparenchymal sutures and biological gelatine matrix-thrombin sealant, with no bolstered renorrhaphy. Data on outcomes during and after surgery were collected prospectively. RESULTS The median (range) tumour size was 2.5 (1.7-5) cm, the warm ischaemia time 20 (9-44) min, the estimated blood loss 150 (50-1000) mL, and 80 (45-95)% of the kidney was spared. Complications occurred in four patients (17%), i.e. one each with a postoperative haemorrhage with a lateral tumour, requiring surgical re-exploration, a urine leak that resolved spontaneously, postoperative anaemia, and atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS In properly selected patients with a central tumour extending to the collecting system, the LPN defect can be reconstructed safely with a running intraparenchymal haemostatic suture and thrombin sealant, with no bolstered renorrhaphy. The operation is simplified and the warm ischaemia time significantly less. A lateral tumour, wherein the resultant LPN defect faces away from the surgeon, precluding uniform contact of sealant with the entire tumour bed, has the potential for postoperative haemorrhage, and is a contraindication for this technique.
Rayleigh-Schrödinger multiple perturbation theory

Abstract A convenient procedure is described for the solution of the equations arising in Rayleigh-Schrodinger multiple perturbation theory. Some elementary applications of the procedure are carried out.
Octave Uzanne’s L’Éventail : A Literary Mythology of the Fan

In the last half of the nineteenth century, the folding fan was phenomenally popular in France. The accessory was a ubiquitous component of women’s dress, yet it also attracted the attention of some prominent collectors and Orientalists as well as acquiring an importance in the art and literature of the period. In many plastic works and literary texts devoted to it, the fan retains a link with femininity, and particularly with feminine sexuality, even as its identity as an art object is emphasized. Octave Uzanne’s L’Eventail (1882), a self-professed literary history of the fan, exemplifies this dualistic treatment as it presents the fan both as a titillating intimate companion of women and as a literary and (although to a lesser extent) art historical subject. This article focuses on Uzanne’s treatment of the fan’s early history in the Far and Middle East. By comparing his text with other contemporary histories of the fan, it demonstrates that the “history” of the accessory may be more accurately described as a mythology.
Production of H2 at fast rates using a nickel electrocatalyst in water–acetonitrile solutions

We report a synthetic nickel complex containing proton relays, [Ni(PPh2NC6H4OH2)2](BF4)2 (PPh2NC6H4OH2 = 1,5-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-diphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclo-octane), that catalyzes the production of H2 in aqueous acetonitrile with turnover frequencies of 750–170 000 s−1 at experimentally determined overpotentials of 310–470 mV.
Technical Note Co-occurrence matrices for small region texture measurement and comparison

Abstract Modification of the typical co-occurrence matrix measure of image region texture is discussed. The modification produces a co-occurrence array with elements that represent non-directional joint grey level probabilities. The array size varies with the number of pixel adjacencies available in the image region. For small regions this gives better joint probabiliIy estimates and thus produces more eITective and consistent texture comparisons for small regions. A simple segmentation example is given to illustrate the techniques described.
The effect of high-dose albumin therapy on local cerebral perfusion after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats

We have shown that high-concentration albumin therapy is markedly neuroprotective in focal cerebral ischemia. The present study was conducted to ascertain the degree to which hemodynamic alterations are responsible for this therapeutic effect. Normothermic, physiologically regulated male Sprague-Dawley rats received a 2-h period of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) by insertion of an intraluminal suture coated with poly-L-lysine. Albumin (25% human serum albumin solution) or vehicle (0.9% sodium chloride) was administered intravenously at a dose of 1% of body weight immediately after suture withdrawal following 2-h MCAo. Local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) was measured autoradiographically with 14C-iodoantipyrine after 1 h of recirculation. Novel image-processing methods were used to compare average LCBF data sets against previously obtained infarction-frequency data on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Albumin therapy reduced mean hematocrit by 42% but produced no other systemic alterations. Pixel-based histopathological analysis revealed large, consistent cortical and subcortical infarcts in saline-treated rats with MCAo; albumin therapy reduced mean cortical infarct volume by 85%. Within regions showing albumin-associated neuroprotection, numbers of pixels having LCBF in the upper ischemic-core flow range (0.12-0.24 ml g-1 min-1) were reduced by 8.6-fold by albumin therapy when compared to saline-treated rats; and numbers of pixels with LCBF in the lower penumbral flow range (0.24-0.36 ml g-1 min-1) were reduced by 3. 1-fold in albumin-treated rats (p=0.04 by repeated-measures analysis of variance). Analysis of the [albumin-saline] 3-dimensional difference-image data set revealed a circumferential zone of statistically significant albumin-associated LCBF increase within the posterior portion of the ischemic hemisphere, surrounding the core-region of prior ischemia. Thus, high-concentration albumin therapy improves local perfusion to regions of critical LCBF reduction. The spatial extent of this LCBF effect, however, appears too small to account fully for the marked neuroprotective efficacy of this therapy. We suggest that other, non-hemodynamic mechanisms may also be contributory.
Fostering Innovation Through Experiential Learning

Globalization has put engineering education and the profession at a challenging crossroad. The impact of rapid technological innovations on modern societies has been amplified by the globalization of the economy. The competitiveness of the U.S., which is linked to our standard of living, is dependent on our ability to produce a large number of sufficiently innovative engineers prepared to address issues related to complex systems. Hence, our focus is on the research and development of instructional activities that address the engineering competencies related to innovation. Engineering educators and practitioners have suggested that collaborative-competitive team design events promote innovation. These competitions are popular, and they attract sponsors and participants. Beyond being popular, they are believed to provide rich learning opportunities for students. The University of Oklahoma’s Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Racing team is highly ranked in the U.S. and world. We are in the early stages of designing, implementing, and testing a four course curriculum, around the FSAE race car, that fosters meaningful learning, innovation, systems level thinking, and the attainment of career-sustaining skills as a result of authentic experiences. We plan to identify the activity features that match with the theoretical frameworks of innovation, match them to the professional competencies, translate the events from extracurricular to curricular activities, and assess their effects on student learning and development in four technical courses our curriculum. With a view to stimulating discussion, in this paper, we highlight some of the salient features of our plan and some issues that warrant further investigation.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Silver diffusion and defect formation in Si (1 1 1) substrate at elevated temperatures

Abstract Silver diffusion into Si (1 1 1) substrate at moderate temperatures (400–700 °C) has been studied by the use of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), and optical etch pit observations. The diffusion coefficient of silver has been estimated. Silicon crystallographic defects start to form at the silicon surface when the annealing temperature is above 450 °C. This phenomenon is related to the silver diffusion. The activation energy of the defect formation is approximately 2.46±0.26 eV . It is higher than the reported activation energy (1.59 eV) for silver diffusion at higher temperature (1100–1300 °C). The possible mechanisms are discussed to account for the experimental results.
A Note on Selected Names in James Hynes’s Academic Novel The Lecturer’s Tale

AbstractThis note offers a brief discussion of selected names in the literary sub-genre commonly labeled the ‘academic novel,’ and exemplified in The Lecturer’s Tale by James Hynes. It defines the genre and enumerates its most common features. Because this note constitutes an overview of nomenclature in one specific academic novel, it is exemplary rather than comprehensive.
Thickness of the magnetic crust of Mars

[1] To estimate the thickness of the magnetic crust of Mars, six observational magnetic spectra are fitted with the theoretical spectrum expected from a novel, bimodal distribution of magnetic sources. Observational spectra differ, for each comes from a different map or model of variously selected and analyzed Mars Global Surveyor Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer measurements of the vector magnetic field around Mars. The new theoretical spectrum represents fields from both compact sources and extended, laterally correlated sources on a spherical shell, so the estimated shell depth can now be doubled to obtain layer thickness. This typical magnetic crustal thickness is put at 47.8 ± 8.4 km. The extensive sources are enormous, typically 650 km across, and account for over half the magnetic energy at low degrees. There is some indication that these sources are relatively shallow, but the typical area remains about 330,000 km2. Granted such extended sources represent magnetization of Mars’ ancient crust in a core source field dominated by a reversing, areocentric paleodipole, each one arguably formed during a single polarity chron. How did such vast regions of magnetic crust form? A survey of many eligible mechanisms suggests magnetization of cooling igneous rock at minimal rates of about 1 to 0.1 km3/a during superchrons of order 15 to 150 Ma long.
Wideband light generation from a small core diameter single-mode optical fiber for high-resolution optical coherent tomography

Wideband light generation from a single mode optical fiber was investigated. Investigation showed that spectral structure of light broadened by self-phase modulation was not sensitive to fluctuations of the input pulse energy, and its intensity noise was much lower than that of contimuum light from a microstructure fiber. The spectral width of a femtosecond input laser pulse was successfully broadened by a factor of eleven, and a longitudinal resolution of OCT was improved from 35 to 3.7 μm. The system empoyed a dynamic focusing tracking method to maintain high lateral resolution over a large imaging depth.
Copper Core–Porous Manganese Oxide Shell Nanoparticles

Core–shell nanoparticles, especially those with nanoporous oxide shells, exhibit chemical and physical properties that are distinct from those of the bulk materials due to the atomic-level proximity and morphology of the core and shell atoms. Here, we demonstrate a wet-chemical method for the synthesis of Cu core (∼6.1 nm)–porous Mn3O4 shell (∼3.4 nm thick) nanoparticles. Various characterization techniques, including synchrotron radiation-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) tools, confirm the core–shell structure. Both the chemical and physical properties of these Cu-based nanoparticles are influenced by the Mn3O4 shell. For example, the magnetic properties of the core–shell particles are found to be similar to those of Mn3O4 nanoparticles reported in the literature. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) results demonstrate that these materials are catalytically active for CO adsorption and hydrogenation.
The growth of tubular or vermicular structures in organic monotectic systems

Growth fronts have been examined for several transparent organic monotectic alloys based on succinnonitrile (SCN), using a temperature gradient stage. The systems include SCN with water, glycerol, benzene, and ethanol: in the first two systems, steady state growth is possible at very low rates ( 0.1 μm s−1). At higher growth rates (≿1 μm s−1) all these systems exhibit a variety of tubular or vermicular morphologies, where droplets of the minor immiscible liquid phase appear to provide a diffusion path by which the reaction can occur with localized deposition of the solid product. The remarkable growth forms are discussed with reference to a series of time-lapse micrographs and the form of a typical phase diagram.
Multiplex microsphere immunoassays for the detection of IgM and IgG to arboviral diseases.

Serodiagnosis of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) at the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, CDC, employs a combination of individual enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and microsphere immunoassays (MIAs) to test for IgM and IgG, followed by confirmatory plaque-reduction neutralization tests. Based upon the geographic origin of a sample, it may be tested concurrently for multiple arboviruses, which can be a cumbersome task. The advent of multiplexing represents an opportunity to streamline these types of assays; however, because serologic cross-reactivity of the arboviral antigens often confounds results, it is of interest to employ data analysis methods that address this issue. Here, we constructed 13-virus multiplexed IgM and IgG MIAs that included internal and external controls, based upon the Luminex platform. Results from samples tested using these methods were analyzed using 8 different statistical schemes to identify the best way to classify the data. Geographic batteries were also devised to serve as a more practical diagnostic format, and further samples were tested using the abbreviated multiplexes. Comparative error rates for the classification schemes identified a specific boosting method based on logistic regression “Logitboost” as the classification method of choice. When the data from all samples tested were combined into one set, error rates from the multiplex IgM and IgG MIAs were <5% for all geographic batteries. This work represents both the most comprehensive, validated multiplexing method for arboviruses to date, and also the most systematic attempt to determine the most useful classification method for use with these types of serologic tests.
Energy-efficiency and thermal management in nanoscale devices

Power consumption and thermal management are significant challenges in electronics, from mobile devices to data centers. A fundamental examination of such aspects could lead to orders of magnitude improvements in energy efficiency. We present recent highlights from our work examining dissipation in nanoscale devices, at contacts, interfaces, and in novel materials. Advances include the use of high-thermal conductivity materials (graphene), low-power data storage (based on phase change rather than charge), and thermoelectric effects for highly localized cooling. Results suggest much room to improve power dissipation in nanoscale electronics, towards fundamental limits, through the co-design of geometry and materials.
Using a systems biology approach to dissect parasite-host interactions.

The reductionist approach to biology has allowed us to understand the cell at a component level. But in recent years, with the deluge of genome-derived and empirically obtained data, we must interpret biological complexity holistically. Thus, systems biology research allows us to connect the seemingly independent elements in biological networks. Protozoan parasites in the genus Leishmania cause clinically distinct diseases in humans with visceral, cutaneous, and mucocutaneous pathologies. In this article, we take the example of Leishmania parasites and their interactions with the vertebrate host as a model to generate a global view of molecular and biochemical processes in both spatial and temporal compartments, based on genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data. Furthermore, we propose extending this approach to other pathogen-host relationships, thus enabling us to identify novel therapeutic targets, vaccine candidates, and to develop immune monitoring and diagnosis. Drug Dev Res 70:296–302, 2009 © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
X-RIME: Cloud-Based Large Scale Social Network Analysis

As an important technique in modern sociology, social network analysis has gained a lot of attention from many disciplines, and been used as important complements to traditional statistics and data analysis. In order to make it affordable for analysts with massive and fast growing networks, we present X-RIME, a cloud-based library for large scale social network analysis. We propose an implementation-oriented classification of social network analysis structures and structure variables to guide the implementation of them over MapReduce parallel programming model. The layered architecture of the library is described along with design consideration of each layer. By sharing the same infrastructure and integrating with existing cloud-based data warehouse and data mining libraries and tools, more comprehensive and cost effective social network aware business intelligence solutions could be built. We present several case studies on an online community to illustrate the usage of X-RIME library. The performance of the library is evaluated with experiments, which demonstrates good scalability.
Isotopic analysis of metalliferous sediment from the East Pacific Rise

Analysis of iron-rich sediments from the East Pacific Rise suggest that they originate as precipitates from hydrothermal solutions injected into seawater. Ultra-slow-scan X-ray diffraction and K-Ar data point to only trace amounts of biotic and detrital components. The sediment, which consists largely of discrete granules of siliceous and of ferruginous material, contains unusually high concentration of Pb, Zn, and Ni among other elements. An untreated sample and several water-rinsed, size-fractionated samples contain 669–880 ppm Sr with identical87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70905 ± 0.0001 - indistinguishable from Sr in modern seawater. After leaching a <20μ fraction of the sample with acetic acid, it retains 356 ppm Sr with87Sr/86Sr = 0.7088. Further leaching with HCl results in the removal of practically all of the ferruginous component; the degraded amorphous silica residue contains 34 ppm Sr with87Sr/86Sr = 0.7065. Volcanogenic Sr (87Sr/86Sr ∼ 0.7035) apparently contributes less than 3% of the total Sr. The sediment contains about 178 ppm Pb with isotopic ratios that are within the ranges of values for Pb from oceanic, tholeiitic basalts; the sediment Pb is markedly less radiogenic than Pb from marine manganese nodules, particularly with respect to207Pb/204Pb. Thus, the bulk of the Sr is derived from seawater, probably by absorption onto reactive Fe-Mn surfaces and incorporation in biogenic phosphate and carbonate, whereas most of the Pb ultimately is of magmatic origin.
Synthesis, electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and catalytic properties in DDT reductive dechlorinationin of iron(II) phthalocyanine, 2,3- and 3,4-tetrapyridinoporphyrazine complexes

Iron(II) 2,3- and 3,4-tetrapyridinoporphyrazine complexes (2,3-PyD and 3,4-PyD) were synthesized and characterized as to their electrochemistry, UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry and catalytic properties towards the reductive dechlorination of 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (p,p′-DDT) in pyridine, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N′-dimethylacetamide (DMA) and N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF). These properties were compared with those of the unsubstituted iron(II) phthalocyanine ((Pc)Fe). Electrochemistry indicates that there are up to three reductions and one oxidation in the three investigated derivatives. The easiest reduction takes place for 3,4-PyD while the most difficult one occurs for (Pc)Fe in all of the solvents investigated. The first reduction is metal-centered corresponding to the formation of [P(-2)Fe(I)]- while the second and third reductions are ring-centered leading stepwise to the generation of [P(-3)Fe(I)]2- · and [P(-4)Fe(I)]3-, where P = phthalocyanine or tetrapyridinoporphyrazine rings. Aggregation exists in the solutions of all three iron complexes and its extent depends upon the nature and concentration of the iron compounds and the binding property of each solvent. The order of the extent of aggregation for the three iron derivatives is 3,4-PyD > 2,3-PyD > (Pc)Fe. Stronger binding solvents such as pyridine and DMSO do not favor the aggregation. The singly and doubly reduced species of investigated complexes, [P(-2)Fe(I)]- and [P(-3)Fe(I)]2- ·, are active in DDT reductive dechlorination, the latter of which has better catalytic performance. As a result, three products, 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethane (p,p′-DDD), 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE), and 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethylene (p,p′-DDMU), were obtained after the dechlorination of DDT catalyzed by each iron complex. The increasing order of catalytic performance is 3,4-PyD < 2,3-PyD < (Pc)Fe in pyridine, which is superior to DMSO and DMA for the DDT dechlorination reaction. An overall electrocatalytic mechanism is proposed for DDT reductive degradation based on the electrochemical and UV-visible spectroelectrochemical results.