cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cosmic-Ray Measurements with a Small Ionization Chamber II. Comparison of Small Bursts at Different Altitudes and Their Variations with Thickness of Shield

Measurements of bursts produced in a small ionization chamber (230 cc volume) have been carried out at several stations. A comparison is made between frequencies of occurrence of various sized bursts at Cambridge, Mass. (bar. 76), Echo Lake, Colo. (bar. 51.1), Mt. Evans, Colo. (bar. 44.7), and Cerro de Pasco, Peru (bar. 45.4). The altitude ratios for burst groups comprising 10-19 rays, 20-29, and 30 and greater, are: Echo Lake to Cambridge, 4.9, 8.0 and 8.8; Mt. Evans to Cambridge, 7.3, 14.3 and 20.0. The data for the smallest burst groups are in agreement with counter measurements on showers, while the ratios for the largest bursts agree with the ionization chamber data of others on large bursts. The maxima of the burst production absorption curves shift to greater lead thicknesses with increasing burst size.
Orientation disparity: A cue for 3d orientation?

Orientation disparity, the difference in orientation that results when a texture element on a slanted surface is projected to the two eyes, has been proposed as a binocular cue for 3D orientation. Since orientation disparity is confounded with position disparity, neither behavioral nor neurophysiological experiments have successfully isolated its contribution to slant estimates or established whether the visual system uses it. Using a modified disparity energy model, we simulated a population of binocular visual cortical neurons tuned to orientation disparity and measured the amount of Fisher information contained in the activity patterns. We evaluated the potential contribution of orientation disparity to 3D orientation estimation and delimited the stimulus conditions under which it is a reliable cue. Our results suggest that orientation disparity is an efficient source of information about 3D orientation and that it is plausible that the visual system could have mechanisms that are sensitive to it. Although orientation disparity is neither necessary nor sufficient for estimating slant, it appears that it could be useful when combined with estimates from position disparity gradients and monocular perspective cues.
Resonance ionization spectroscopy of stable strontium isotopes and 90Sr via 5s2 1S0→5s5p 1P1→5s5d 1D2→5s11f 1F3→Sr+

Abstract Single-, double- and triple-resonance ionization in the 5s 2 1 S 0 →5s5p 1 P 1 →5s5d 1 D 2 →5s11f 1 F 3 →Sr + system of strontium was investigated to achieve an efficient and highly selective ionization scheme for ultra-trace detection of the radioisotope 90 Sr. Isotope shifts and hyperfine structure for all stable isotopes of Sr were measured in all three resonant transitions. Good agreement with previous data was found in the 5s 2 1 S 0 →5s5p 1 P 1 transition and precision was improved by approximately one order of magnitude. Isotope shifts, including that for 90 Sr, and hyperfine structure in the two- and three-photon transitions were measured for the first time. The double- and triple-resonance schemes were characterized with respect to their isotopic selectivity for detection of 90 Sr. The double-resonance process offers an optical selectivity of 2×10 4 , while unfavorable isotope shifts in the triple-resonance process limit its selectivity to ∼100. Using double-resonance ionization combined with mass spectrometric detection, an overall detection efficiency of >10 −5 , a selectivity >10 10 , and a detection limit of 0.7 fg 90 Sr in samples with a 10 10 excess of stable Sr isotopes have been demonstrated.
A model of the L-type Ca2+ channel in rat ventricular myocytes: ion selectivity and inactivation mechanisms

1 We have developed a mathematical model of the L-type Ca2+ current, which is based on data from whole-cell voltage clamp experiments on rat ventricular myocytes. Ion substitution methods were employed to investigate the ionic selectivity of the channel. Experiments were configured with Na+, Ca2+ or Ba2+ as the majority current carrier. 2 The amplitude of current through the channel is attenuated in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ or Ba2+. Our model accounts for channel selectivity by using a modified Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) configuration that employs voltage-dependent channel binding functions for external divalent ions. Stronger binding functions were used for Ca2+ than for Ba2+. 3 Decay of the ionic current during maintained depolarization was characterized by means of voltage- and Ca2+-dependent inactivation pathways embedded in a five-state dynamic channel model. Particularly, Ca2+ first binds to calmodulin and the Ca2+-calmodulin complex is the mediator of Ca2+ inactivation. Ba2+-dependent inactivation was characterized using the same scheme, but with a decreased binding to calmodulin. 4 A reduced amount of steady-state inactivation, as evidenced by a U-shaped curve at higher depolarization levels (>40 mV) in the presence of [Ca2+]o, was observed in double-pulse protocols used to study channel inactivation. To characterize this phenomenon, a mechanism was incorporated into the model whereby Ca2+ or Ba2+ also inhibits the voltage-dependent inactivation pathway. 5 The five-state dynamic channel model was also used to simulate single channel activity. Calculations of the open probability of the channel model are generally consistent with experimental data. A sixth state can be used to simulate modal activity by way of introducing long silent intervals. 6 Our model has been tested extensively using experimental data from a wide variety of voltage clamp protocols and bathing solution manipulations. It provides: (a) biophysically based explanations of putative mechanisms underlying Ca2+- and voltage-dependent channel inactivation, and (b) close fits to voltage clamp data. We conclude that the model can serve as a predictive tool in generating testable hypotheses for further investigation of this complex ion channel.
The new library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Presentation synthetique de la Biblitoheque universitaire Pao Shiu-Loong de l'universite Jiao Tong de Shangai comme premier exemple de l'avenement de l'automatisation des bibliotheques de recherche et universitaires en Chine, ayant beneficie d'un nouveau bâtiment en 1985, au sein d'une universite scientifique et technique dont l'importance est soulignee: description de son amenagement apte a supporter le developpement de ses collections, description de son organisation et de ses services, premier bilan de son automatisation au sein du SJYU, systeme des diverses bibliotheques de l'universite (equipement, logiciel, bases de donnees) et de l'utilisation des normes de catalogage
Institutional herding in international markets

Abstract This paper studies herding behavior of institutional investors in international markets. First, we document the existence of wide-spread herding in 41 countries (referred to as “target countries” hereafter) in the sample. We then examine the relation between contemporaneous institutional demand and future returns and find that institutional herding stabilizes prices. Next, we examine the relation between institutional investors’ herding behavior and the level of information asymmetry in the target countries. We measure the degree of information asymmetry in each target country along five dimensions: (1) stock market development, (2) ease of access to information, (3) corporate transparency, (4) investor rights, and (5) macroeconomic factors that relate to the information environment. We find evidence that institutional investors herd more in markets characterized by low levels of information asymmetry (high level of information transparency). This result suggests that institutional investors’ herding behavior is likely driven by correlated signals from fundamental information. Lastly, we show that price adjustment is faster in informationally transparent markets.
Fully Softened Shear Strength at Low Stresses for Levee and Embankment Design

AbstractShallow slides in levee and other embankment slopes are usually controlled by effective normal stresses less than 12 kPa (250 psf). For first-time slides in fine-grained soils, the fully softened shear strength is frequently used to model the strength of embankment soils because it represents the shear strength remaining after the effects of overconsolidation, compaction, desiccation, or other strengthening processes have been removed because of wetting, infiltration, stress relief, swelling, and weathering. However, there is limited fully softened strength data at effective normal stresses less than 50 kPa (1,000 psf), so existing correlations in this stress range must be extrapolated. This paper presents new fully softened shear strength data at an effective normal stress of 12 kPa (250 psf) and recommendations for estimating and modeling the stress-dependent fully softened shear strength envelope directly or as a power function in stability analyses.
Opportunities and Challenges in Antiparasitic Drug Discovery

New antiparasitic drugs are urgently needed to treat and control diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and filariasis, which affect millions of people each year. However, because the majority of those infected live in countries in which the prospects of any financial return on investment are too low to support market-driven drug discovery and development, alternative approaches are needed. In this article, challenges and opportunities for antiparasitic drug discovery are considered, highlighting some of the progress that has been made in recent years, partly through scientific advances, but also by more effective partnership between the public and private sectors.
Fixed-point free maps on the reals and more

Abstract In our main result we prove that a continuous function f : R → R fixes a point iff f ˜ : β R → β R does, where f ˜ is the continuous extension of f over the Cech–Stone compactification. In the second half of the paper the statement of this theorem with R replaced by an arbitrary X is taken for a definition of a property and a number of results about the property are proved.
Great expectations: Legitimacy and emotions among out of hospital midwives

In this article we examine the process by which a group of marginal health-care professionals portray the legitimacy of their skills and services to potential clients. While extensive attention has been devoted to this construal of legitimacy through such affinitive alignments, much less attention has been given to elucidating the factors shaping how marginal social groups construct alternative professional legitimacy frameworks with which to contest dominant competitors. Drawing on qualitative content analysis of direct entry midwives’ (DEMs) online descriptions of their practices and in-depth interviews, we explain how DEMs construe professional legitimacy through alternative cultural understandings of maternity care and experience. Our study highlights three key components of DEMs’ professional legitimation: midwives’ alignment with professional associations and scientific research, the creation of new understandings of care relationships and space, and the role of emotions in defining the optimal birth experience. We argue that the positive emotions associated with direct entry midwifery care become critical mechanisms for redefining both professionalism and the experience of birth within the boundaries of alternative practice.
Accessibility of Segmented Reading Comprehension Passages for Students with Disabilities

This study explores factors that affect the accessibility of reading comprehension assessments for students with disabilities in grade 8 public school classrooms. The study consisted of assessing students using reading comprehension passages that were broken down into shorter “segments” or “chunks” in order to assess the validity and effectiveness of segmenting and the reliability of assessment in segmenting. The results of the segmenting study indicated that: (1) segmenting did not affect reading performance of students without disabilities; suggesting that it does not compromise the validity of reading assessment; (2) segmenting did not affect reading performance of students with disabilities; and (3) the segmented version had a higher reliability for students with disabilities without affecting the reliability for students without disabilities.
Physical properties of a new silorane-based restorative system

Abstract Objectives To distinguish the physical properties of a new silorane-based restorative material in comparison to five methacrylate-based restorative materials – a compomer, giomer, nanocomposite, hybrid and micro-hybrid. Methods The following properties were examined per restorative material: compressive strength, diametral tensile strength, flexural strength/modulus, fracture toughness, microhardness, and polymerization shrinkage. The mean and standard deviation were determined per group. A one-way ANOVA/Tukey was performed per property ( α = 0.05). Results Significant differences were found between groups per property ( p Conclusions Compared to the methacrylate-based restorative materials, the new silorane-based material had the lowest polymerization shrinkage, but an overall mixed mechanical performance. The silorane-based material had relatively higher flexural strength/modulus, fracture toughness, but relatively lower compressive strength and microhardness than the methacrylate-based restorative materials.
Teaching Word Processing—What You Can Do on Monday

(1980). Teaching Word Processing—What You Can Do on Monday. The Journal of Business Education: Vol. 55, No. 5, pp. 214-215.
Power variations of Schumann resonances related to El Niño and La Niña phenomena

[1] A three dimensional Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) model of the Earth-ionosphere cavity with the realistic conductivity profile is employed to study the intensity variations of Schumann resonances (SR) associated with the El Nino and La Nina phenomena. Comparison of the results derived from our FDTD model and the previous studies by other authors on related subjects shows that the intensity of the Schumann resonances varies with the spatial shifts of the thunderstorm regions under El Nino and La Nina conditions. Due to the different spatial field distributions of SR electrical and magnetic components in the Earth-ionosphere cavity, the different power variation patterns are clearly observed in the electrical and magnetic components with the motion of the thunderstorm center in our FDTD results. A new method is proposed to detect the shifts of the thunderstorm regions related to the El Nino and La Nina phenomena using the combination of both electrical and magnetic components of Schumann resonances at a single station.
Adenohypophyseal receptors for LHRH, pituitary content of gonadotropins and plasma concentrations of LH in cyclic, pregnant and postpartum beef cows.

Adenohypophyseal concentrations of LHRH receptors, pituitary content of LH and FSH, and plasma concentrations of LH were determined in thirty Hereford, Angus or Hereford-Angus heifers that were randomly assigned by breed and weight to five periods including day 3 of the estrous cycle (CY), pregnant day 120 (P120), 200 (P200), 275 (P275), or day 2 postpartum (PP). Jugular blood samples were collected at 10-min intervals for 8 hr from all cows. Within 2 hr after completion of blood sampling, animals were slaughtered and the pituitary gland frozen at −196 C. LH pulse frequency/8 hr was reduced (P .1) among P120, P200 or PP periods but was different (P .1) among periods; however, pulse amplitude was greatest (P .1) among P and PP periods (.3 ± .1 ng/ml), but were lower (P<.05) than in CY animals (.7 ± .1 ng/ml). Concentration of adenohypophyseal LHRH receptors was approximately two-fold greater (P<.05) at P120 (25.85 ± 2.2 fmol/mg) than at all other periods (9.5 to 14.9 ± 2.2 fmol/mg). Pituitary content of LH was greatest at P120 (1.56 ± .11 ug/mg) and lowest (P<.05) at P275 and PP (0.46 to 0.52 ± .11 ug/mg). Pituitary content of FSH was greatest (P<.05) in P (12.7 to 17.0 ± 1.4 ug/mg) and PP (18.3 ± 1.4 ug/mg) vs CY (5.0 ± 1.4 ug/mg) cows and increased from P120 to PP (P<.05). Results indicate that physiological changes occurring during gestation may have an effect on subsequent function of the adenohypophysis in beef cows.
Characterization of Thermophilic Archaeal Isopentenyl Phosphate Kinases

Archaea synthesize isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), the essential building blocks of isoprenoid compounds, from mevalonate (MVA). However, an analysis of the genomes of several members of the Archaea failed to identify genes for the enzymes required to convert phosphomevalonate (PM) to IPP in eukaryotes. The recent discovery of an isopentenyl kinase (IPK) in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (MJ) suggests a new variation of the MVA pathway where PM is decarboxylated to give isopentenyl phosphate (IP), which is phosphorylated to produce IPP. A blast search using the MJ protein as a probe revealed a subfamily of amino acid kinases that include the fosfomycin resistance protein fomA, which deactivates the antibiotic by phosphorylation of its phosphonate residue in a reaction similar to the conversion of IP to IPP. IPK genes were cloned from two organisms identified in the search, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus (MTH) and Thermoplasma acidophilum (THA), and the His-tagged recombinant proteins were purified by Ni-NTA chromatography. The enzymes catalyze the reversible phosphorylation of IP by ATP, K(eq) = 6.3 +/- 1. The catalytic efficiencies (V/K) of the proteins were approximately 2 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). In the reverse direction, ADP was a substrate inhibitor for THA IPK, K(i)(ADP) = 58 +/- 6 microM, but not for MTH IPK. Both enzymes were active over a broad range of pH and temperature. Five compounds, dimethylallyl phosphate, isopentenyl thiolophosphate, 1-butyl phosphate, 3-buten-1-yl phosphate, and geranyl phosphate, were evaluated as alternative substrates for the MTH and THA IP kinases. All of the compounds were phosphorylated, although the catalytic efficiency was low for geranyl phosphate.
Regulation of the human immune response during tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis is characterized by depression of purified protein derivative-stimulated (PPD-stimulated) blastogenesis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as decreased production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Circulating T cells and monocytes (MNs) are nonspecifically activated in situ. PPD directly stimulates the primed MNs from patients with tuberculosis (TB) to overproduce a panoply of cytokines including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and IL-10, which serve to depress PPD-stimulated blastogenesis and cytokine expression. Cross-modulation by these immunosuppressive MN products is superimposed on a primary T cell abnormality that persists for at least 12 months after the diagnosis of TB and involves apoptotic mechanisms.
Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Photoresists for EUV Patterning

The authors gratefully acknowledgeSEMATECH for funding, as well as the CornellNanoscale Science and Technology Facility(CNF), Cornell Center of Materials Research(CCMR), the Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC)and the KAUST-Cornell Center of Energy andSustainability (KAUST_CU) and LawrenceBerkeley National Lab (LBNL) for use of theirfacilities.
Identification of Human Term and Preterm Labor using Artificial Neural Networks on Uterine Electromyography Data

To use artificial neural networks (ANNs) on uterine electromyography (EMG) data to classify term/preterm labor/non-labor pregnant patients. A total of 134 term and 51 preterm women (all ultimately delivered spontaneously) were included. Uterine EMG was measured trans-abdominally using surface electrodes. “Bursts” of elevated uterine EMG, corresponding to uterine contractions, were quantified by finding the means and/or standard deviations of the power spectrum (PS) peak frequency, burst duration, number of bursts per unit time, and total burst activity. Measurement-to-delivery (MTD) time was noted for each patient. Term and preterm patient groups were sub-divided, resulting in the following categories: [term-laboring (TL): n = 75; preterm-laboring (PTL): n = 13] and [term-non-laboring (TN): n = 59; preterm-non-laboring (PTN): n = 38], with labor assessed using clinical determinations. ANN was then used on the calculated uterine EMG data to algorithmically and objectively classify patients into labor and non-labor. The percent of correctly categorized patients was found. Comparison between ANN-sorted groups was then performed using Student’s t test (with p < 0.05 significant). In total, 59/75 (79%) of TL patients, 12/13 (92%) of PTL patients, 51/59 (86%) of TN patients, and 27/38 (71%) of PTN patients were correctly classified. ANNs, used with uterine EMG data, can effectively classify term/preterm labor/non-labor patients.
Complex formation influence on reaction rate. I. Effect of caffeine on riboflavin base-catalyzed degradation rate

The rate of the base-catalyzed decomposition of riboflavin was investigated in aqueous solution in the absence and presence of caffeine at a number of different temperatures. It was found that at all temperatures the apparent velocity of the reaction was decreased by the presence of caffeine and that the magnitude of this effect was dependent on the concentration of caffeine in the system. A mathematical relationship, expressing the relative degree of stabilization as a function of the caffeine concentration and the dissociation constant for the complex, was derived by assuming that a 1:1 complex formed and that the complexed riboflavin did not undergo reaction with the base. Dissociation constants which were calculated for the complex from the kinetic data were found to be in close agreement with values previously obtained by nonkinetic techniques. Free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes which characterize the association were calculated to be −2,000 cal., −5,750 cal., and −12 e.u., respectively. The energy of activation for the degradative reaction was found to be the same in the presence of caffeine as in its absence.
Reactivity of individual organolithium aggregates: a RINMR study of n-butyllithium and 2-methoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)phenyllithium.

Low-temperature rapid injection NMR (RINMR) experiments were performed on two lithium reagents, n-butyllithium and 2-methoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)phenyllithium (5), with the goal of measuring the relative reactivity of the different aggregates (dimer, mixed dimer, and tetramer for n-BuLi, monomer and tetramer for 5) toward typical electrophiles. The reaction of the n-BuLi dimer with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene first forms the mixed dimer n-BuLi·Me3SiC⋮CLi, which is about 1/60 as reactive as the n-BuLi homodimer. The tetramer does not react. In the deprotonation of (phenylthio)acetylene, the n-BuLi dimer was found to be 3.5 × 108 as reactive as the tetramer, and in the addition to p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde, the relative reactivity was at least 2 × 104. In the deprotonation of (p-tolylsulfonyl)acetylene, the monomer of 5 was at least 1014 times as reactive as the tetramer. These measurements show that the difference in reactivity between the lower and higher aggregates of organolithium reagents can be many order...
Identification of hamster thymus-derived lymphocytes employing rabbit anti-hamster brain serum.

. Rabbit anti-hamster brain sera prepared from the brains of Syrian and Chinese hamsters were evaluated for their potential to identify thymus-derived lymphocytes present in these animals. The unabsorbed antisera were cytotoxic in vitro for both homologous and heterologous thymocytes and splenocytes. Following absorption with hamster liver and erythrocytes, the antisera remained toxic for thymocytes, but were less toxic for splenocytes. Comparative testing of both the rabbit anti-Syrian and anti-Chinese brain sera with rabbit anti-C3H mouse brain serum indicated that considerable cross-reactivity exists between the different anti-brain sera. The in vivo administration of any of the antisera to C3H mice resulted in a lowered titer to the thymus-dependent sheep erythrocyte antigen response as measured by the hemolysis-in-gel technique. In vitro treatment with the anti-brain sera had no effect on plaque-forming cells present in the spleen.
Pleistocene terraces of the alto Henares (Guadalajara), Spain

Abstract A suite of four terraces in the upper Rio Henares drainage system (Rio Tajo basin) now provides a partial geomorphological link between the Middle Pleistocene, Lower Paleolithic archeological sites at Ambrona and Torralba (upper Ebro basin) and those in the vicinity of Madrid. The Campina and Low Terrace features are shown by radiocarbon dating to be of Holocene and Wurm ages, respectively, while the Middle and High Terraces are best designated as being Middle and Lower Pleistocene ages, respectively. Stratigraphic relationships between the upper and lower Rio Henares segments need to be established.
The Diagnostic Yield of Navigational Bronchoscopy Performed with Propofol Deep Sedation

Objective. To describe the diagnostic yield of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) utilizing propofol for procedural deep sedation. Methods. We conducted a structured retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who underwent ENB with propofol for the evaluation of pulmonary nodules and masses. We analyzed the relationships between lesion size and location, variance (CT-to-body divergence), and positron emission tomography findings on diagnostic yield. Diagnoses were established by histopathological evaluation and clinical-radiographic followup. Results. 41 patients underwent ENB during the study period. The overall diagnostic yield was 89% (42 of 47 target lesions). Among the 42 positive specimens, the diagnoses were squamous cell carcinoma , adenocarcinoma , small cell carcinoma , adenocarcinoma in situ , coccidioidomycosis , and inflammatory processes . Average lesion size was cm and variance mm. The diagnostic yield was greater when the lesion size was >4 cm (100%) and when variance was ≤4 mm (91% versus 87%, ). Conclusion. The diagnostic yield of ENB utilizing propofol for procedural deep sedation at our center was excellent. ENB with deep sedation may result in superior diagnostic yield compared with ENB performed with moderate sedation.
Individual Priming in Virtual Team Decision-Making

Virtual teams have different interactions than face-to-face teams because they rely on information and communication technologies, which can impede or assist certain human cognitive processes. Past research has shown that although virtual teams exchange more information than face-to-face teams, poor decisions often result, because team members do not consider the unique information they receive from others. Drawing from cognitive psychology, our research explored a unique way to improve team decision-making through the use of cognitive priming. We proposed that priming group members to pay attention to others or to engage in counterfactual thinking would improve team members’ cognition and, therefore, team performance. Prior research with individuals and brainstorming teams has shown these forms of priming to improve performance; however, no research has attempted to use priming to improve the outcomes of virtual team decision-making, which requires deeper interaction and cognitive involvement than brainstorming. We performed two lab experiments using primes that have been found to improve the individual decision-making process. We found that priming had some impact, but it did not significantly improve decision quality. Various reasons are discussed to explain why priming techniques may not be as powerful in teams as in individuals, and future research ideas are suggested to build on our initial work on priming in virtual team decision-making.
Phenotypic overlap of the BBB and G syndromes

Three males with similar malformations including hypertelorism, telecanthus, cleft lip and palate, and hypospadias, have been evaluated. One also had a laryngotracheoesophageal cleft and therefore was considered to have the G syndrome. The other two had no stridor, aspiration, or difficulty swallowing, and were considered to have the BBB syndrome. Both disorders are associated with multiple malformations and can be most readily distinguished by the presence of laryngoesophageal abnormalities in the G syndrome and differences in facial features evident later in childhood. The BBB syndrome appears to be inherited as an X-linked disorder with the affected female showing only telecanthus and hypertelorism. The G syndrome exhibits autosomal dominant inheritance with males more severely affected, although a few few females have had serious malformations in addition to telecanthus and hypertelorism. In the family with the G syndrome evaluated for this report, the mother of the affected infant had telecanthus, hypertelorism, and anosmia, the latter a feature not previously noted in this disorder.
Brainstem networks: Reticulocortical synchronization

The brainstem reticular formation (BRF) is important in generalized tonic-clonic convulsive seizures (GTCS). Audiogenic kindling (AK) in genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s) induces seizures closely mimicking GTCS. Unkindled GEPR-9 seizure network requires only brainstem nuclei. After AK, the seizure network permanently expands into forebrain, involving N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated cAMP changes in amygdala. For an expanded treatment of this topic see Jasper's Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies, Fourth Edition (Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, Olsen RW, Delgado-Escueta AV, eds) published by Oxford University Press (available on the National Library of Medicine Bookshelf [NCBI] at www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books).
A single-step kit formulation for the 99mTc-labeling of HYNIC-Duramycin

Introduction 99mTc-Duramycin is a unique radiopharmaceutical that binds specifically to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The current effort is to develop a single-step kit formulation for the 99mTc labeling of HYNIC-Duramycin.
9,9 (10,10)-Bis(acetoxymethyl)octadecanoate Esters as Plasticizers for Poly(vinyl chloride)

Four alkyl 9,9(10,10)-bis(acetoxymethyl)octadecanoates were evaluated as plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride). They were all compatible and imparted properties generally equal or superior to those obtained with a dioctyl phthalate (DOP) control. Permanence properties were also generally equal or superior to those reported for analogous acetoxy and acetoxymethyl plasticizers. Volatility was half that for DOP. On heating, the experimental samples remained flexible to failure, whereas the control samples with DOP became stiff and rigid. Acetone acetals of alkyl 9,9(10,10)-bis(hydroxymethyl)octadecanoates were incompatible with poly(vinyl chloride).
Effect of Hyaluronic Acid on Rabbit Profundus Flexor Tendon Healing in Vitro

We performed an in-depth biomechanical evaluation of the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the healing of rabbit profundus tendons cultured in vitro. Seventy-eight flexor tendons from 13 rabbits were transected and reapproximated at their Zone II midpoints. Tendons were divided into left and right forepaw groups. Each tendon from the left forepaw group was incubated in one of four possible culture media: control (no HA), low (0.1 mg/ml), medium (0.5 mg/ml), or high (1.0 mg/ml) HA media. HA was added on the first day of incubation. Each tendon from the right forepaw group was cultured in low, medium, or high concentrations of HA, but HA was added after 1 week of incubation in control media. All tendons were cultured for 8 weeks, after which time tenorrhaphies were disrupted and the following biomechanical parameters were determined: apparent maximum stress, apparent strain at apparent maximum stress, normalized energy absorption, and tangent modulus before failure. Comparisons using these parameters showed no statistically significant differences among the various tendon groups. We believe this is the first study of its kind to show no effect of hyaluronic acid on the functional strength of tendon after healing in vitro.
Particle acceleration at interplanetary shocks

This paper briefly reviews proton acceleration at interplanetary shocks. This is key to describing the acceleration of heavy ions at interplanetary shocks because wave excitation—and hence particle scattering—at oblique shocks is controlled by the protons and not the heavy ions. Heavy ions behave as test particles, and their acceleration characteristics are controlled by the properties of proton-excited turbulence. As a result, the resonance condition for heavy ions introduces distinctly different signatures in abundance, spectra, and intensity profiles, depending on ion mass and charge. Self-consistent models of heavy-ion acceleration and the resulting fractionation are discussed. This includes discussion of the injection problem and the acceleration characteristics of quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular shocks.
Measurement and analysis of the ν2 band of D216O

Abstract The rotational structure of the ν 2 band of D 2 16 O between 700 and 1550 cm −1 has been analyzed from spectra recorded with a Fourier transform spectrometer (nominal resolution: 0.1 cm −1 ). By applying Watson's reduced Hamiltonian and a least squares method to the set of observed transitions, together with microwave data and the infrared data of Williamson, 22 rotational constants for the ground state and 17 for the upper state have been obtained which predict the positions of more than 700 observed lines with a standard deviation of 0.04 cm −1 .
PKCδ influences p190 phosphorylation and activity: Events independent of PKCδ-mediated regulation of endothelial cell stress fiber and focal adhesion formation and barrier function

Background We have shown that protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) inhibition results in increased endothelial cell (EC) permeability and decreased RhoA activity; which correlated with diminished stress fibers (SF) and focal adhesions (FA). We have also shown co-precipitation of p190RhoGAP (p190) with PKCδ. Here, we investigated if PKCδ regulates p190 and whether PKCδ-mediated changes in SF and FA or permeability were dependent upon p190.
Identifying unique components of preschool children's self-regulatory skills using executive function tasks and continuous performance tests

Abstract Continuous Performance Tests (CPTs) are proposed to measure attention and inhibitory control (IC). The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which performance on the CPT overlaps with measures of executive functioning (EF) skills (i.e., IC and working memory [WM]). A sample of 279 preschoolers (Age, M = 55.86, SD = 4.00) were administered three CPTs as well as measures of IC, WM, and early academic achievement. For each child, a teacher completed a behavioral-rating measure. Results indicated that omission and commission errors on the CPT were distinct from EF skills and each other. These findings have implications for understanding the overlap between attention and EF and for the use of low target-frequency CPTs with preschoolers.
Rhythmic distance between languages affects the development of speech perception in bilingual infants

Abstract The time course and trajectory of development of phonetic perception in Spanish–Catalan bilingual and monolingual infants is different ( Bosch & Sebastian-Galles (2003a) , Bosch & Sebastian-Galles (2003b) , Bosch & Sebastian-Galles (2005) ; Sebastian-Galles & Bosch, 2009 ). Bosch and Sebastian-Galles argue that, at least initially, bilingual infants track statistical regularities across the two languages, leading to their temporary inability to discriminate acoustically similar phonetic categories. In this paper, we test bilingual Spanish–English 4- and 8-month-olds’ discrimination of vowels. Results indicate that, when the two languages being learned are rhythmically dissimilar, bilingual infants are able to discriminate acoustically similar vowel contrasts that are phonemic in one, but not the other language, at an earlier age. These results substantiate a mechanism of language tagging or sorting; such a mechanism is likely to help bilingual infants calculate statistics separately for the two languages.
Care coordination impacts on access to care for children with special health care needs enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often require services from multiple health care providers. This study’s objective is to evaluate whether CSHCN, enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and receiving care coordination services, experience improved access to mental and specialty health care services. Using data from the 2009–2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, two separate outcomes are used to evaluate children’s access to care: receipt of needed mental and specialty care and timely access to services. Using propensity score matching, CSHCN propensity for receiving care coordination services is derived and an assessment is made of care coordination’s impact on the receipt of health care and whether care is delayed. Results demonstrate that care coordination is positively associated with whether a child receives the mental and specialty care that they need, regardless of whether or not that coordination is perceived to be adequate by parents. However, receiving care coordination services that parents perceive to be adequate has a larger impact on the timeliness in which care is received. This study indicates that care coordination is associated with an increased ability for CSHCN to access needed mental and specialty care. States should consider offering care coordination services that support provider communication and fulfill families’ coordination needs to the CSHCN enrolled in their Medicaid and CHIP programs.
A memory coherence technique for online transient error recovery of FPGA configurations

The partial reconfiguration feature of some of the current-generation Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) can improve dependability by detecting and correcting errors in on-chip configuration data. Such an error recovery process can be executed online with minimal interference of user applications. However, because Look-up Tables (LUTs) in Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) of FPGAs can also implement memory modules for user applications, a memory coherence issue arises such that memory contents in user applications may be altered by the online configuration data recovery process. In this paper, we investigate this memory coherence problem and propose a memory coherence technique that does not impose extra constraints on the placement of memory-configured LUTs. Theoretical analyses and simulation results show that the proposed technique guarantees the memory coherence with a very small (on the order of 0.1%) execution time overhead in user applications.
Complex signal detection with broad spectral band processing.

A technique of generating a broad spectral band matched filter for complex signal detection with a white-light optical processor is described. Since the filter construction and signal detection utilize primarily a white-light source, the technique is very suitable for color image correlation. Experimental results are also provided.
Portion Distortion: A Study of College Students.

This study compared designated serving size to actual consumption (portion size). Forty-two college students estimated portion size and serving size of cereal, candy, and punch. Most (81%) refer to package labels, and over a third of women identified serving size as “of major interest.” Only one-third accurately estimated the serving size of cereal within 10% of the correct amount. The stated serving size of cereal and punch was less than half of the portion size. Increasing serving sizes to more closely correspond to portion sizes would benefit consumers by providing information more likely to represent the nutritional quantities commonly consumed.
Broken Promises: The Role of Reputation in Private Equity Contracting and Strategic Default

This paper examines reputation and contract design in private equity acquisitions. We use a novel dataset of both completed and terminated private equity buyouts from 2004 through 2010. We find that private equity firms and targets rely on reputation to fill intentional contractual gaps. During the financial crisis private equity firms complete uneconomic, pre-agreed takeovers up to the point when estimated buyout losses rise to at least 7% of sponsors’ fund sizes, or $200 to $400 million in nominal values. Target firms are willing to engage with defaulting private equity firms in future transactions but they penalize these firms by demanding significantly larger contract nonperformance penalties. We conclude that both reputation and explicit contracting can play important and interrelated roles in private equity and complex business relationships generally.
Captured Diversity in a Culture Collection: Case Study of the Geographic and Habitat Distributions of Environmental Isolates Held at the American Type Culture Collection

The use of molecular techniques to assess prokaryotic diversity independent of the need for enrichment culture has profoundly changed how we view and study microbial diversity. As molecular data have accumulated over the past 15 years, these data are now resulting in a healthy debate about how much we really know about prokaryotic diversity in a wide range of environments (8, 21–23, 32, 44, 55). A number of recent articles have discussed these questions, and opinions range from the position that prokaryotic diversity is essentially infinite, with the existence of millions of potential species, (6, 10), to arguments that microbial diversity is reasonably finite (17, 26). In light of this debate concerning the results of theoretical considerations and molecule-based surveys, it is interesting to take stock of the holdings of the environmental prokaryotes available at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) to determine how these holdings reflect overall trends in microbial diversity in different habitats. The principle mission of bioresource centers, such as the ATCC, is to serve as living stock collections that acquire diverse biological materials for redistribution to researchers throughout the world. The ATCC has about two-thirds of the type strains of prokaryotic species in the world. In many cases, multiple strains of a given species are acquired. As these materials are accessioned, data relevant to their provenance and physiology are collected. These data are an underutilized asset of bioresource centers. For example, the data on the source locations of isolates can provide information about the relative sampling efforts for different geographic regions. Concordantly, data concerning the environmental habitats of isolates can provide important information about the diversity of genera that are associated with certain habitat types. No articles were found in a literature search that specifically analyzed culture collections as a metric for assessing our knowledge of larger patterns of microbial diversity. In this article we present an analysis of the holdings of environmental prokaryotes at the ATCC with regard to the geographical and environmental habitats from which they were isolated. The term environmental is broadly defined to include all organisms that are not pathogenic to humans or animals or that are not otherwise human associated (see below). Selected habitats for which holdings at the ATCC are the most abundant were compared to recently published findings of workers who used cultivation-independent methods to assess microbial diversity. This provided perspective on how well the “captured diversity” in a culture collection represents the diversity which may exist in nature.
Cross-plane Seebeck coefficient in superlattice structures in the miniband conduction regime

We have studied experimentally and theoretically the cross-plane Seebeck coefficient of short period InGaAs/InAlAs superlattices with doping concentrations ranging from 2x10(18) up to 3x10(19) cm(-3). Measurements are performed with integrated thin film heaters in a wide temperature range of 10-300 K. It was interesting to find out that contrary to the behavior in bulk material the Seebeck coefficient did not decrease monotonically with the doping concentration. We did not observe a sign change in the Seebeck coefficient at dopings where the Fermi energy is just above a miniband. This is a sign that electrons' lateral momentum is conserved in the transport perpendicular to superlattice layers. A preliminary theory of thermoelectric transport in superlattices in the regime of miniband formation has been developed to fit the experimental results.
Nucleosome occupancy information improves de novo motif discovery

A complete understanding of transcriptional regulatory processes in the cell requires identification of transcription factor binding sites on a genomewide scale. Unfortunately, these binding sites are typically short and degenerate, posing a significant statistical challenge: many more matches to known transcription factor binding sites occur in the genome than are actually functional. Chromatin structure is known to play an important role in guiding transcription factors to those sites that are functional. In particular, it has been shown that active regulatory regions are usually depleted of nucleosomes, thereby enabling transcription factors to bind DNA in those regions [1]. In this paper, we describe a novel algorithm which employs an informative prior over DNA sequence positions based on a discriminative view of nucleosome occupancy; the nucleosome occupancy information comes from a recently published computational model [2]. When a Gibbs sampling algorithm with our informative prior is applied to yeast sequencesets identified by ChIP-chip [3], the correct motif is found in 50% more cases than with an uninformative uniform prior. Moreover, if nucleosome occupancy information is not available, our informative prior reduces to a new kind of prior that can exploit discriminative information in a purely generative setting.
LKB1 Inactivation Dictates Therapeutic Response of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer to the Metabolism Drug Phenformin

The LKB1 (also called STK11) tumor suppressor is mutationally inactivated in ∼20% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). LKB1 is the major upstream kinase activating the energy-sensing kinase AMPK, making LKB1-deficient cells unable to appropriately sense metabolic stress. We tested the therapeutic potential of metabolic drugs in NSCLC and identified phenformin, a mitochondrial inhibitor and analog of the diabetes therapeutic metformin, as selectively inducing apoptosis in LKB1-deficient NSCLC cells. Therapeutic trials in Kras-dependent mouse models of NSCLC revealed that tumors with Kras and Lkb1 mutations, but not those with Kras and p53 mutations, showed selective response to phenformin as a single agent, resulting in prolonged survival. This study suggests phenformin as a cancer metabolism-based therapeutic to selectively target LKB1-deficient tumors.