cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of microRNAs expression during maize seed development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 20-22 nt non-coding RNAs that play key roles in many biological processes in both animals and plants. Although a number of miRNAs were identified in maize, the function of miRNA in seed development was merely discussed. In this study, two small RNA libraries were sequenced, and a total reads of 9,705,761 and 9,005,563 were generated from developing seeds and growing leaves, respectively. Further analysis identified 125 known miRNAs in seeds and 127 known miRNAs in leaves. 54 novel miRNAs were identified and they were not reported in other plants. Additionally, some miRNA*s of these novel miRNAs were detected. Potential targets of all novel miRNAs were predicted based on our strict criteria. In addition to deep-sequencing, miRNA microarray study confirmed the higher expression of several miRNAs in seeds. In summary, our results indicated the distinct expression of miRNAs during seed development. We had identified 125 and 127 known miRNAs from seeds and leaves in maize, and a total of 54 novel miRNAs were discovered. The different miRNA expression profile in developing seeds were revealed by both sequencing and microarray studies.
Increasing hatchery production of juvenile red king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus) through size grading

Abstract Cannibalism is problematic in hatchery production of many crustaceans and can be exacerbated by differential growth, size variability, and asynchronous molting. We conducted two hatchery experiments in Seward, Alaska, USA to investigate effects of size grading on survival and growth of juvenile red king crabs ( Paralithodes camtschaticus ). We reared larvae and subsequent juveniles until juveniles were eight weeks post-settlement. For each experiment, these eight-week old juvenile crabs (approximately 2.0 to 4.5 mm carapace width) were sorted using a 3.3 mm mesh screen into: “small,” “large,” and “ungraded” size classes. In the diet experiment, the three size classes were stocked at a density of 600 crabs m − 2 and reared either on a control diet of commercial mariculture feeds or the control diet supplemented with astaxanthin and calcium for 53 days. In the density experiment, the three size classes were stocked at densities of 400, 900, and 1400 crabs m − 2 and fed the control diet plus astaxanthin and calcium for 31 days. Survival in both experiments was strongly influenced by size grading. Generally, small crabs had higher survival than large and ungraded crabs. Diet was not a significant factor in weight or survival. Small crabs had relatively high survival at all stocking densities, but all size classes had decreased survival with increasing density, likely from cannibalism. Size graded crabs reared at elevated densities yielded improved biomass per rearing area (g m − 2 ) compared to ungraded populations, suggesting lower survival rates may achieve the goal of optimizing hatchery production. Coupled with appropriate stocking densities, size grading could be used in laboratory and hatchery rearing protocols for red king crab and other likely cannibalistic crustaceans to maximize survival, improve hatchery efficiency, and increase the financial viability of large-scale stock enhancement or aquaculture programs.
An innovative system to enhance upper-extremity stroke rehabilitation

There is a need to develop and evaluate alternative techniques for upper-extremity stroke rehabilitation. Currently there are many promising therapeutic techniques; however, the cost is generally too high and the participation tends to drop off. A unique design is proposed that modifies a mass-marketed joystick and features: a) an extended joystick that enables a larger range of motion and arm movements in both the horizontal and vertical fields that can be augmented with passive springs, b) motors in series with mechanical springs capable of providing moderate assistive forces, and c) an approach emphasizing computer-assisted motivating therapy that takes advantage of commercial gaming industry products.
Isolated injury of the infraspinatus branch of the suprascapular nerve.

Abstract A 30-year-old recreational baseball player developed dominant-sided infraspinatus atrophy and shoulder pain after throwing a baseball. Partial denervation of the infraspinatus muscle with delayed motor latency was documented. Isolated lesions of the branch to the infraspinatus may be more common than previously suspected, particularly in throwing athletes with shoulder pain.
EFFECT OF AN ENHANCED CAMV 35S PROMOTER AND A FRUIT-SPECIFIC PROMOTER ON UIDA GENE EXPRESSION IN TRANSGENIC TOMATO PLANTS

Summary Two different promoters, a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter with a 5 0 - untranslated leader sequence from alfalfa mosaic virus RNA4 (designated as CaMV 35S/AMV) and an E-8 fruit-ripening-specific promoter, were compared to evaluate their effects on expression of the uidA reporter gene in transgenic tomato plants. In order to generate sufficient numbers of transgenic tomato plants, both a reliable regeneration system and an efficient Agrobacterium transformation protocol were developed using 8-d-old cotyledons of tomato (Lycopersicon ecsulentum Mill. cv. Swifty Belle). Two sets of constructs, both derivatives of the binary vector pBI121, were used in transformation of tomato whereby the uidA gene was driven either by the CaMV 35S/AMV or the E-8 fruit-ripening-specific promoter. Southern blot hybridization confirmed the stable integration of the chimeric uidA gene into the tomato genome. Fruit and leaf tissues were collected from T0 and T1 plants, and assayed for b-glucuronidase (GUS) enzyme activity. As expected, both vegetative and fruit tissues of transgenic plants carrying the uidA gene under the control of CaMV 35S/AMV showed varying levels of GUS activity, while no expression was observed in vegetative tissues of transgenic plants carrying the uidA gene driven by the E-8 promoter. All fruits from transgenic plants produced with both sets of constructs displayed expression of the uidA gene. However, when this reporter gene was driven by the CaMV 35S/AMV, GUS activity levels were significantly higher than when it was driven by the E-8 fruit-specific promoter. The presence/absence of the uidA gene in T1 plants segregated in a 3:1 Mendelian ratio.
Functional anatomical and behavioral consequences of dopamine receptor stimulation.

Taken together with electrophysiological data, these results suggest that in states of DA deficiency, systemically administered L-dopa or DA agonist drugs inhibit cell firing in the major output nuclei of the basal ganglia (GPI and SNPR). We propose that DA produces this net effect by a direct influence on the striato-GPI and striato-SNPR neurons, as well as indirectly via the striato-GPE-STN-GPI/SNPR circuit. The RCGU data suggest that DA activates the direct pathway by stimulating D1 receptor-bearing striatal GABAergic neurons projecting to GPI and SNPR. Supportive evidence includes the ability of D1 agonists to facilitate GABA release in the striatum and to increase the firing rates of striatonigral neurons. The RCGU data also support a net stimulatory action of DA on the GPE output on STN, consistent with the excitatory effects of DA on GPE neuronal firing rates. This effect may be mediated by both D1 and D2 receptors. Stimulation of this pathway should physiologically inhibit the STN resulting in dysfacilitation of the GPI and SNPR. According to this scheme, DA exerts complementary actions via both direct and indirect anatomical pathways to decrease tonic firing rates of intrinsic neurons in the major output nuclei of the basal ganglia (i.e., GPI and SNPR).
Support of long-wavelength topography on Mercury inferred from MESSENGER measurements of gravity and topography

To explore the mechanisms of support of surface topography on Mercury, we have determined the admittances and correlations of topography and gravity in Mercury's northern hemisphere from measurements obtained by NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft. These admittances and correlations can be interpreted in the context of a number of theoretical scenarios, including flexural loading and dynamic flow. We find that long-wavelength (spherical harmonic degree l < 15) surface topography on Mercury is primarily supported through a combination of crustal thickness variations and deep mass anomalies. The deep mass anomalies may be interpreted either as lateral variations in mantle density or as relief on compositional interfaces. Domical topographic swells are associated with high admittances and are compensated at 300–400 km depth in the lower reaches of Mercury's mantle. Quasi-linear topographic rises are primarily associated with shallow crustal compensation and are weakly correlated with positive mass anomalies in the mantle. The center of the Caloris basin features some of the thinnest crust on the planet, and the basin is underlain by a large negative mass anomaly. We also explore models of dynamic flow in the presence of compositional stratification above the liquid core. If there is substantial compositional stratification in Mercury's solid outer shell, relaxation of perturbed compositional interfaces may be capable of creating and sustaining long-wavelength topography.
"Can Our Kids Hack It With Computers?" Constructing Youth Hackers in Family Computing Magazines (1983-1987)

Building upon existing scholarship on media representation of hackers and the social history of personal computing, this essay positions U.S. families making sense of microcomputers in the mid-1980s as central to the history of hacking. Archival material for this project consists of 74 issues of youth- and family-focused computing magazines of this era, within which discussions of hacking were frequent. This essay maps an array of discourses about young hackers constructed in relation to hopes and anxieties about networked technologies. Besides connecting microcomputers to particular family ideals, these magazines also put forth a family-friendly notion of youth hackers. While microcomputers entered the home with notions of hacking attached, I argue that family computing in turn shaped contemporary conceptions of hacking.
Influence of temperature on measurements of the CO2 compensation point: differences between the Laisk and O2-exchange methods

The CO2 compensation point in the absence of day respiration (Γ*) is a key parameter for modelling leaf CO2 exchange. Γ* links the kinetics of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco) with the stoichiometry of CO2 released per Rubisco oxygenation from photorespiration (α), two essential components of biochemical models of photosynthesis. There are two main gas-exchange methods for measuring Γ*: (i) the Laisk method, which requires estimates of mesophyll conductance to CO2 (g m) and (ii) measurements of O2 isotope exchange, which assume constant values of α and a fixed stoichiometry between O2 uptake and Rubisco oxygenation. In this study, the temperature response of Γ* measured using the Laisk and O2-exchange methods was compared under ambient (25 °C) and elevated (35 °C) temperatures to determine whether both methods yielded similar results. Previously published temperature responses of Γ* estimated with the Laisk and O2-exchange methods in Nicotiana tabacum demonstrated that the Laisk-derived model of Γ* was more sensitive to temperature compared with the O2-exchange model. Measurements in Arabidopsis thaliana indicated that the Laisk and O2-exchange methods produced similar Γ* at 25 °C; however, Γ* values from O2 exchange were lower at 35 °C compared with the Laisk method. Compared with a photorespiratory mutant (pmdh1pmdh2hpr) with increased α, wild-type (WT) plants had lower Laisk values of Γ* at 25 °C but were not significantly different at 35 °C. These differences between Laisk and O2 exchange values of Γ* at 35 °C could be explained by temperature sensitivity of α in WT and/or errors in the assumptions of O2 exchange. The differences between Γ* measured using the Laisk and O2-exchange method with temperature demonstrate that assumptions used to measure Γ*, and possibly the species-specific validity of these assumptions, need to be considered when modelling the temperature response of photosynthesis.
Views from within and beyond

Senescence is associated with enhanced risk of cardiovascular diseases. It is generally considered that decline in growth hormones (such as insulin-like growth factor I), intrinsic myocardial and endothelial functions, as well as accumuation of reactive oxygen species with increased age may contribute to cardiovascular senescence. It is believed that heart function, especially cardiac reserve declines with advanced age. However, most experimental and clinical investigations on ventricluar function only included young or adult subjects and failed to address this important age issue in heart pathophysiology. Although senescent but otherwise healthy hearts may possess normal pumping function at the resting or non-stressed state, some aging-associated factors such as accumulation of reactive oxygen species and activation of selective stress signaling pathways may interact with certain risk factors and compromise overall cardiac function. The precise cause and progression of compromised cardiac function in the elderly remain controversial. This review will focus on senescene-related alterations in cardiac contractile function with a special emphasis on oxidative stress and activation of stress signaling.
Farm structure and competitiveness in the Hungarian agriculture

After the political, economic and social transformation in 1989-1990, the farm structure in Hungary became undoubtedly more diverse than earlier. The new farm structure is radically different from the characteristics of its main competitors, mainly of other EU member states. The past two decades after the transition was a period long enough to appreciate the characteristics and the main changes in the farm structure, so the current relevance of this topic is unquestionable. Viability, subsistence and competitiveness are significant concepts which could be measured by the profitability of the agricultural holdings. It is very important to define the main criteria of viability, subsistence and competitiveness but we should not forget the multifunctional role of agriculture as this could solve very important challenges, especially in maintaining the rural population and helping their livelihoods.
Intrinsic AHR in IL-5 transgenic mice is dependent on CD4(+) cells and CD49d-mediated signaling.

Overexpression of interleukin (IL)-5 by the airway epithelium in mice using the rat CC10 promoter (NJ.1726 line) leads to several histopathologies characteristic of human asthma, including airway hyperreactivity (AHR). We investigated the contribution of B and T cells, as well as CD4 expression, to the development of AHR in IL-5 transgenic mice. NJ.1726 mice on a T cell or CD4 knockout background, but not on a B cell knockout background, lost intrinsic AHR. These effects occurred without decreases in IL-5 or eosinophils. We further investigated the contribution of α 4 -integrin signaling to the development of AHR in IL-5 transgenic mice through the administration of anti-CD49d (α 4 -integrin) antibody (PS/2). Administration of PS/2 resulted in immediate (16-h) inhibition of AHR. The inhibition of AHR was not associated with a decrease in airway eosinophils. These studies demonstrate that, despite the presence of increased levels of IL-5 and eosinophils in the lungs of NJ.1726 mice, CD4 + cells and α 4 -integrin signaling are necessary for the intrinsic AHR that develops in IL-5 transgenic mice.
Identification of an Immunogenic Subset of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Purpose: Uveal melanoma is a rare melanoma variant with no effective therapies once metastases develop. Although durable cancer regression can be achieved in metastatic cutaneous melanoma with immunotherapies that augment naturally existing antitumor T-cell responses, the role of these treatments for metastatic uveal melanoma remains unclear. We sought to define the relative immunogenicity of these two melanoma variants and determine whether endogenous antitumor immune responses exist against uveal melanoma. Experimental Design: We surgically procured liver metastases from uveal melanoma ( n = 16) and cutaneous melanoma ( n = 35) patients and compared the attributes of their respective tumor cell populations and their infiltrating T cells (TIL) using clinical radiology, histopathology, immune assays, and whole-exomic sequencing. Results: Despite having common melanocytic lineage, uveal melanoma and cutaneous melanoma metastases differed in their melanin content, tumor differentiation antigen expression, and somatic mutational profile. Immunologic analysis of TIL cultures expanded from these divergent forms of melanoma revealed cutaneous melanoma TIL were predominantly composed of CD8 + T cells, whereas uveal melanoma TIL were CD4 + dominant. Reactivity against autologous tumor was significantly greater in cutaneous melanoma TIL compared with uveal melanoma TIL. However, we identified TIL from a subset of uveal melanoma patients which had robust antitumor reactivity comparable in magnitude with cutaneous melanoma TIL. Interestingly, the absence of melanin pigmentation in the parental tumor strongly correlated with the generation of highly reactive uveal melanoma TIL. Conclusions: The discovery of this immunogenic group of uveal melanoma metastases should prompt clinical efforts to determine whether patients who harbor these unique tumors can benefit from immunotherapies that exploit endogenous antitumor T-cell populations. Clin Cancer Res; 22(9); 2237–49. ©2015 AACR .
Reduced Sodium-Potassium Dependent Atpase and its Possible Role in the Development of Hypertension in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Ouabain-sensitive Na+-K+-ATPase activity in red cell membranes, kidney cortical tissue, myocardium and adrenal glomerulosa tissue was examined in SHR and WKY rats at 6, 9, and 12 weeks of age. Red cell membrane enzyme activity was decreased (p> 0.001) at 9 and 12 weeks of age in SHR. This activity was negatively correlated (r= -0.69, p>.005) with blood pressure at 9 and 12 weeks. Kidney cortical enzyme activity was also decreased (p> 0.001) in the SHR at 9 and 12 weeks of age. This decreased kidney enzyme activity was also inversely related to 9 and 12 week blood pressures (r= -0.71, p> 0.001), urinary Na excretion (r= -0.62, p>.005), and urinary Ca and K excretion. Myocardial enzyme activity was not decreased until 12 weeks in the SHR, and adrenal glomerulosa activity was not different in the SHR and WKY at any of the three ages that this enzyme was measured. Of the tissues examined decreased Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the erythrocyte membrane and in kidney cortical tissue appears to coincide best with th...
Committing and Supervising Unethical Sales Force Behavior: The Effects of Victim Gender, Victim Status, and Sales Force Motivational Techniques

Based on research using a national sample of sales managers, findings indicate that unethical behavior is related to victim status and the method for awarding sales force incentives. Unethical behavior is more likely when the victim is a salesperson that is held in low regard and when firms use an intra-firm competitive scheme that encourages competition among salespeople in the same sales force. Supervisory reaction to unethical behavior was found to be related to victim status, but not victim gender or intra-firm competition. Sales managers may be more lenient when the victim is held in low regard by announcing an intention to quit.
Protests in a New Perspective: A Discourse Analysis on the Arab Spring

Much information has been gathered and debated with regards to the catalytic factors, social and political context, and general revolutionary trends involved in and concerning the Arab Spring. However, one aspect of analysis that is lacking is the correlated strength and success of the revolution with regards to the discourse used throughout the various uprisings. Consequently, this paper seeks to add to that dimension by analyzing the discourse utilized by the revolutionaries during the protests. This particular analysis focuses on the contextual factors and their influence on the discourse employed in the 2011 and 2013 uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. This is accomplished by studying the language employed during the uprisings from varied news outlets, blogs, and other social media. Lastly, I argue that little has changed in terms of the context of the protests, although some differences appear within and between the Egyptian and Tunisian experiences. In conclusion, this paper, by closely examining the discourse surrounding the uprisings, provides a new perspective on the success and strength of the Arab Spring protests.
An Exact Solution for the Optical Absorbance of Thin Films

The electric and magnetic fields within optical thin films are obtained exactly in closed form as solutions of a system of difference equations presented by Berning and utilized by Dill, Neureuther, Tuttle, and Walker in their sample program for modeling optical lithography. The solution allows an explicit closed form expression for the absorbance.
Experimental Evaluation of Wellbore Integrity Along the Cement-rock Boundary

Leakage of CO2 and brine from geologic storage reservoirs along wellbores is a major risk factor to the success of geologic carbon sequestration. We conducted multiphase [supercritical (sc)CO2-brine] coreflood experiments that simulate a leakage pathway along the cement/rock interface. A composite core constructed of oil-well cement and siltstone separated by a simulated damage zone (defect) containing ground cement and siltstone was flooded with brine + scCO2 at 10 MPa and 60 °C parallel to the defect. During coinjection of scCO2, the effective brine permeability decreased from ∼200 to 90 mD due to transition to two-phase flow and then further declined to 35 mD. CO2 injection resulted in a pH drop from 11 to 4 and carbonate-undersaturated conditions in the produced brine. Microscopy revealed leaching and erosion along the defect, a carbonation front extending 5 mm into the cement, parallel to the damage zone, and no change in the dimensions of the defect. Carbonation of cement does not appear to explain ...
Abstract 2533: Synergistic interactions between topotecan and resveratrol in melanoma

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the hypoxic microenvironment of skin may foster melanoma initiation and progression by promoting HIF mediated blockade of p53 tumor suppressor activity. Both ROS and hypoxia stabilize HIF-1α, thereby promoting angiogenesis and suppressing apoptosis. HIF functions in opposition to p53, which suppresses angiogenesis and promotes apoptosis. We previously reported that topotecan (TPT) inhibits HIF1α stabilization, leading to down regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We have also found that resveratrol (RSV) depresses HIF levels and opposes angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TPT in combination with RSV on melanoma cell lines and primary melanoma tumors. We found that HIF-1α was stabilized in melanoma even under normoxic conditions, rising to significantly higher levels under hypoxic conditions (3- to 9-fold). We evaluated these agents against melanoma under normoxia and hypoxia (1% O2) in vitro using the XTT assay. Under normoxic/hypoxic conditions IC50 values for TPT on melanoma lines A375, YUZAZ6, and M14 were 20/21.7 nM, 94/32 nM, and 250/50nM, respectively and 246/56.54 nM for the MELV2 primary tumor. IC50 values for RSV were 25.3/33.4 uM, 22/17.8 uM, 75/65 uM, and 217/22.8 uM, respectively. These agents were synergistic (Calcusyn analysis, combination index (CI) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2533. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2533
Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 36-2008. A 59-year-old man with chronic daily headache.

A 59-year-old man was admitted to this hospital with a 6-month history of chronic daily headache, fever, and myalgia. Dry mouth, polydipsia and polyuria, and pain in the jaws on chewing developed. Neuroimaging studies showed diffuse thickening and enhancement of the dura, extending to the pituitary stalk. Computed tomography revealed calcified nodules in the lungs and spleen. A diagnostic procedure was performed.
Ingrams: A Neuropsychological Explanation For Why People Search

Why do people start a search? Why do they stop? Why do they do what they do in-between? Our goal in this paper is to provide a simple yet general explanation for these acts that has its basis in neuropsychology and observed user behavior. We coin the term "ingram", as an information counterpart to Richard Semon's ?engram? or "memory trace". People search to create ingrams. People stop searching because they have created sufficient ingrams, or given up. We describe these acts through a pair of user models and use it to explain various user behaviors in search activity. Understanding people?s search acts in terms of ingrams may help us predict or model the interaction of people?s information needs, the queries they issue, and the information they consume. If we could observe certain decision-making acts within these activities, we might also gain new insight into the relationships between textual information and knowledge representation.
Aal Tegither, Like the Folks O’Sheels: Colonizers, Invaders, Settlers and Sojourners in the Making of an Industrial Town

‘Who says there is no beauty nor poetry in coal and grime and smoke, in huddled tenements, high chimneys, and such things?’ So W. Clark Russell, a visitor in the 1880s, captured the prospect greeting travellers, sojourners and migrants disembarking in Victorian South Shields. ‘Viewed from the rushing, broken, tossing river’, the landscape Russell celebrated bore marks of the town’s integration into an industrializing world: ‘screw-ships with volumes of steam blowing from their sides … tugs rapidly darting to and fro or toiling along with a string of barges in their wake’, steamships looming ‘tall, gaunt and bare’ and ‘colliers … lifting their ill-stayed spars into the whirling gloom’. Iron foundries, shipyards, chemical and cement factories lined the river on either side, along with ‘timber yards, warehouses, wharves—leagues of them stretching in one long unbroken chain’. All, to Russell, signified ‘the breadth of its interests, the wealth of its industries, the amazing spirit of progress’ animating the locality.1
Respect for the ancients.

![Figure][1] Sunset on the island of Kosrae. PHOTO: GEOFFREY RHODES/FLICKR I am finishing the day's field notes by the light of a kerosene lamp on the Micronesian island of Kosrae, home of the archaeological site of Safonfok, when two Micronesians on my field crew approach my tent and ask me to escort them to the latrine. These local men, who are fishermen in their village when not working on my project, know that this remote terrain was abandoned long ago by their ancestors. They have a deep respect for the ancient history of archaeological sites and the ghosts and spirits that inhabit them. It is common to ask permission of the local spirits for safe entry into an archaeological site or passage through a remote area. The men do this quietly, sometimes under their breath, sometimes with a ritual. (One man removed his shoes when we entered the jungle.) The night, it is believed, belongs to the spirits and ghosts—you don't walk around without a purpose, you don't whistle (the language of ghosts is heard as a whistle), you don't call out someone's name (a ghost may take the name and use it to trick you by luring you into a treacherous place), and you don't walk in the center of a path (this is where ghosts walk). Because I work in ancient places filled with ghosts, I have developed a reputation on this island as someone who is not afraid of anything. The men who have come to my tent trust me to provide safe passage between camp and the latrine. As we walk through the darkness, we are serenaded by night birds, croaking frogs, and buzzing insects. We quietly talk about the coral fish hooks for which Safonfok is known, and they share the island's traditional lore as told to them by their grandfathers. I spend my days uncovering ancient artifacts, but sometimes it is at night when history seems to come alive. LIFE IN SCIENCE is an occasional feature highlighting some of the humorous or unusual day-to-day realities that face our readers. Can you top this? Submit your story to [www.submit2science.org][2] [1]: pending:yes [2]: http://www.submit2science.org
Rates of reactions ClO + ClO yields Cl2 + O2 and ClO + O yields Cl + O2 at elevated temperatures

Results are reported for an experiment in which a shock tube was employed to measure the reaction rates of chlorine-oxygen systems at high temperatures. In this experiment, a mixture of chlorine and ozone, diluted by oxygen and argon, was heated by two consecutive shock waves (primary and reflected) to produce a temperature in the range from 1000 to 1400 K and a pressure of between 3.5 and 9 atm. The reflected shock thermally decomposed the ozone; the resulting atomic oxygen reacted with molecular chlorine to produce ClO; and the variation in ClO concentration after passage of the reflected shock was observed by monitoring the intensity of 2537-A radiation passing through the test gas. The rates of the two cited reactions are deduced from the variation pattern. The rate coefficient values are found to be compatible with existing data obtained in lower pressure and temperature ranges.
A novel low-cost approach for navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Background Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is commonly used for assessing or modulating brain excitability. However, the credibility of TMS outcomes depends on accurate and reliable coil placement during stimulation. Navigated TMS systems can address this issue, but these systems are expensive for routine use in clinical and research environments. Objective The purpose of this study was to provide a high-quality open source framework for navigated TMS and test its reliability and accuracy using standard TMS procedures. Methods A navigated TMS system was created using a low-cost 3D camera system (OptiTrack Trio), which communicates with our free and open source software environment programmed using the Unity 3D gaming engine. The environment is user friendly and has functions to allow for a variety of stimulation procedures (e.g., head and coil co-registration, multiple hotspot/grid tracking, intuitive matching, and data logging). The system was then validated using a static mockup of a TMS session. The clinical utility was also evaluated by assessing the repeatability and operator accuracy when collecting motor evoked potential (MEP) data from human subjects. Results The system was highly reliable and improved coil placement accuracy (position error = 1.2 mm and orientation error = 0.3°) as well as the quality and consistency (ICC >0.95) of MEPs recorded during TMS. Conclusion These results indicate that the proposed system is a viable tool for reliable coil placement during TMS procedures, and can improve accuracy in locating the coil over a desired hotspot both within and between sessions.
Evaluation of acute lipopolysaccharide lung inflammation model in the rat by FDG microPET / microCT imaging

611 Objectives: Human lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) have been shown to increase influx of FDG in the lung due to elevated neutrophil counts. Models of COPD in the rat involve acute inflammation produced by aerosol exposure to irritants such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In vivo measurement of resultant lung neutrophilia currently involves direct invasive capture of samples by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). MicroPET/microCT imaging with FDG in the rat model may serve as a non-invasive biomarker to measure drug response to treatment of COPD. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were studied by microPET and microCT scanning over the lungs followed by sacrifice and collection of BAL samples for determination of neutrophil counts. All procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Groups of eight rats were imaged at three time points: 2, 5 and 24 hours post exposure to an aerosol cloud for 30 minutes to 1mg/ml LPS or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). For imaging, animals were anesthetized by isoflurane and dynamic microPET scans were collected for 90 minutes post tail vein injection of FDG using a Siemens CTI Focus 220 scanner. During PET scanning, serial blood samples were collected at 8 time points and counted in a gamma counter for radioactivity determination. Following PET, microCT images were collected at 90 micron resolution using a GE eXplore Locus scanner. Coregistered microCT images were used for PET attenuation correction and segmentation of lung boundaries. PET lung and blood sample time-activity curves were analyzed for determination of FDG influx constant using PMOD software. Results: Neutrophil counts in BAL samples were 0.36±0.12 (M/ml, mean±std dev), 1.64±0.57 and 0.61±0.24 at 2, 5 and 24 hours post LPS exposure, significantly elevated over PBS controls (0.05±0.11, P Conclusions: MicroPET determination of the FDG influx constant in rat lung was correlated with neutrophil concentration and elevated several hours post LPS exposure. However, at 24 hr post LPS exposure, FDG influx constant was not elevated despite increased neutrophil concentration, suggesting that neutrophils are no longer in a hypermetabolic state. FDG PET may therefore be a non-invasive indicator of neutrophil activation.
Optimal initial approximations for the Newton-Raphson division algorithm

Newton-Raphson iteration provides a high-speed method for performing division. The Newton-Raphson division algorithm begins with an initial approximation to the reciprocal of the divisor. This value is iteratively refined until a specified accuracy is achieved. In this paper, we develop methods for selecting constant and linear approximations which minimize the maximum absolute error of the final result. These approximations are compared with previous methods which minimize the maximum relative error in the final result or the maximum absolute error in the initial value.
On the Soft Real-Time Optimality of Global EDF on Uniform Multiprocessors

It has long been known that the global earliest-deadlinefirst (GEDF) scheduler is soft real-time (SRT) optimal for sporadic task systems executing on identical multiprocessor platforms, regardless of whether task execution is preemptive or non-preemptive. This notion of optimality requires deadline tardiness to be provably bounded for any feasible task system. In recent years, there has been interest in extending these SRT optimality results to apply to uniform heterogeneous platforms, in which processors may have different speeds. However, it was recently shown that nonpreemptive GEDF is not SRT optimal on such platforms. The remaining case, preemptive GEDF, has turned out to be quite difficult to tackle and has remained open for a number of years. In this paper, this case is resolved by showing that preemptive GEDF is indeed SRT optimal on uniform platforms, provided a certain job migration policy is used.
Children with ADHD draw‐and‐tell about what makes their life really good

Purpose The purpose of this study was to engage children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a developmentally sensitive way to explore the children's subjective well-being. Explicitly, their life satisfaction, or what makes their life "really good." To date, little is known about the subjective life experience of children with ADHD or how incorporating children's views separate from the purview of adults and pathology might enhance our understanding or change our approach to evaluation and/or intervention. Design and methods A parallel convergent mixed-methods design was used to collect data from a convenience sample of children with ADHD (N = 20) ages 7 to 11 years old. This article focuses solely on the qualitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews using the art-based approach draw-and-tell conversation (DTC). The DTC data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. In addition, each parent (N = 20) independently completed demographic and health-related forms to provide descriptive and contextual variables. Results Three themes were discerned in the DTC analysis-activity, nature, and connections. Most children (90%) described engaging in some form of activity, often outdoors, and with others; though the focus of activity was varied. Nature was evidenced directly and indirectly in many of the children's (85%) stories. Over half (65%) of the children described some variation in relational connection across a continuum that contributed to, or detracted from, their sense of well-being/life satisfaction. Practice implications Children shared that doing things, outdoors, with others, [emphasis added] made their life "really good". Children's stories yielded insightful and actionable information that is relevant to each individual child/family, and to nursing assessment, intervention, and advocacy. These child-granted insights also extend our attention beyond pharmacological and behavioral focused interventions, to include the children's own innate health promoting interests that help to make their life really good.
The Di-decameric Hemocyanin of the Atlantic Murex Snail, Muricanthus fulvescens (Sowerby)

The sedimentation studies of Svedberg and co-workers (1,2) of the respiratory proteins of various species of vertebrates and invertebrates, including the Hcs of the gastropods of the phylum Mollusca, have suggested that these Hcs consist largely of a single type of particle characterized by a sedimentation coefficient of about 100 S and having a particle mass close to 9,000 kDa. Only a few Hcs, such as those of the channeled whelk, Busycon canaliculatum, and the giant garden slug, Umax maximus, were found to have minor amounts of components sedimenting with a higher rate close to 130 S. More recent investigations by our group and others (3) have shown that many gastropod Hcs consist of a mixture of higher aggregates with sedimentation coefficients of about 100 S, 130 S, 150 S, 170 S and even higher, 200 to 230 S, corresponding to di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and larger multi-decameric units (4, 5). Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) measurements gave particle masses ranging from 8,900 for the di-deeamer to 43,400 kDa for the largest, 10 unit aggregate of Busycon contrarium in the Melongenidae family (4,5). Three additional groups of Hcs from the Naticidae or moon snail family (3,6), the opisthobranch or seahare group, Aplysia vaccaria (unpublished data), Aplysia limacina (7), and Dolabella auricularia (8), and the recently discovered protobranch bivalves, Yoldia limatula and Yoldia thraciaeformis (9) show analogous ranges of aggregates, from essentially all di-decamers in Calinaticina oldroydii (6), A. vaccaria, and Y. limatula (9), to higher polymeric aggregates exemplified by the Hcs from D. auricularia (8) and Y. thraciaeformis (9
Polyploidy in Fungi

Although traditional evolutionary studies in plants commonly have focussed on chromosomal changes in karyotype, recent work in molecular biology emphasizes the key role that repetitive DNA sequences play in phylogeny (1).
Chapter 3.2 The least-squares plane

The calculation of least-squares planes based on uncorrelated, isotropic weights and of proper least-squares planes with Gaussian weights is described. Keywords: least-squares planes; planes; weights; standard uncertainties; proper least-squares planes; Gaussian weights; general Gaussian planes
Effect of antiphase boundaries on the magnetic properties of La2CoMnO6

We present a comparative study of structural and magnetic properties of the as-grown and annealed samples of double perovskite, La2CoMnO6. The single monoclinic (P21/n) phase has been achieved for both the samples. Electron microscopy highlights the change in morphology of the as-grown and annealed samples, with the annealed sample having more grain boundaries and bigger particle sizes. The annealing in presence of oxygen leads to increase in the population of antiphase boundaries, which is supported by the decreases in the remanent and saturation magnetizations. An analysis of magnetization dynamics by means of AC susceptibility shows four different magnetic transitions, with two high temperature ferromagnetic transitions and two cluster glass-like states emerging at low temperatures, which appear almost identical in both the as-grown and annealed samples.We present a comparative study of structural and magnetic properties of the as-grown and annealed samples of double perovskite, La2CoMnO6. The single monoclinic (P21/n) phase has been achieved for both the samples. Electron microscopy highlights the change in morphology of the as-grown and annealed samples, with the annealed sample having more grain boundaries and bigger particle sizes. The annealing in presence of oxygen leads to increase in the population of antiphase boundaries, which is supported by the decreases in the remanent and saturation magnetizations. An analysis of magnetization dynamics by means of AC susceptibility shows four different magnetic transitions, with two high temperature ferromagnetic transitions and two cluster glass-like states emerging at low temperatures, which appear almost identical in both the as-grown and annealed samples.
Social organisation and breeding biology of the White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus)

The White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus) is a tropical passerine bird distributed across much of New Guinea. White-shouldered Fairywrens are among few species of fairywren with exclu ...
Neural Indices of Vowel Discrimination in Monolingual and Bilingual Infants and Children.

OBJECTIVES To examine maturation of neural discriminative responses to an English vowel contrast from infancy to 4 years of age and to determine how biological factors (age and sex) and an experiential factor (amount of Spanish versus English input) modulate neural discrimination of speech. DESIGN Event-related potential (ERP) mismatch responses (MMRs) were used as indices of discrimination of the American English vowels [e] versus [I] in infants and children between 3 months and 47 months of age. A total of 168 longitudinal and cross-sectional data sets were collected from 98 children (Bilingual Spanish-English: 47 male and 31 female sessions; Monolingual English: 48 male and 42 female sessions). Language exposure and other language measures were collected. ERP responses were examined in an early time window (160 to 360 msec, early MMR [eMMR]) and late time window (400 to 600 msec, late MMR). RESULTS The eMMR became more negative with increasing age. Language experience and sex also influenced the amplitude of the eMMR. Specifically, bilingual children, especially bilingual females, showed more negative eMMR compared with monolingual children and with males. However, the subset of bilingual children with more exposure to English than Spanish compared with those with more exposure to Spanish than English (as reported by caretakers) showed similar amplitude of the eMMR to their monolingual peers. Age was the only factor that influenced the amplitude of the late MMR. More negative late MMR was observed in older children with no difference found between bilingual and monolingual groups. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with previous studies, our findings revealed that biological factors (age and sex) and language experience modulated the amplitude of the eMMR in young children. The early negative MMR is likely to be the mismatch negativity found in older children and adults. In contrast, the late MMR amplitude was influenced only by age and may be equivalent to the Nc in infants and to the late negativity observed in some auditory passive oddball designs.
Lung Cancer Screening: Insights from a Thriving Clinical Practice

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the USA. Computed tomography (CT) offers the potential for early detection by screening asymptomatic high-risk patients. We aimed to review the benefits and potential harms of lung cancer screening, discuss the logistics of a screening program, and provide insight from our own experience. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), a large population-based study, has demonstrated mortality benefit from screening, but relatively few eligible patients currently participate. An effective screening program requires input and cooperation from multiple stakeholders. Effort should be made to actively engage patients in the process including a thorough discussion of benefits and possible harms. At our institution, this approach has resulted in a rapidly growing and sustainable program. Lung cancer screening has proven mortality benefit in high-risk patients but is underutilized. Developing and growing a screening program is a complex process requiring coordination among multiple specialties with a focus on patient autonomy.
Head-turning morphologies: Evolution of shape diversity in the mammalian atlas-axis complex

Mammals flex, extend, and rotate their spines as they perform behaviors critical for survival, such as foraging, consuming prey, locomoting, and interacting with conspecifics or predators. The atlas-axis complex is a mammalian innovation that allows precise head movements during these behaviors. Although morphological variation in other vertebral regions has been linked to ecological differences in mammals, less is known about morphological specialization in the cervical vertebrae, which are developmentally constrained in number but highly variable in size and shape. Here, we present the first phylogenetic comparative study of the atlas-axis complex across mammals. We used spherical harmonics to quantify 3D shape variation of the atlas and axis across a diverse sample of species, and performed phylogenetic analyses to investigate if vertebral shape is associated with body size, locomotion, and diet. We found that differences in atlas and axis shape are partly explained by phylogeny, and that mammalian subclades differ in morphological disparity. Atlas and axis shape diversity is associated with differences in body size and locomotion; large terrestrial mammals have craniocaudally elongated vertebrae, whereas smaller mammals and aquatic mammals have more compressed vertebrae. These results provide a foundation for investigating functional hypotheses underlying the evolution of neck morphologies across mammals.
Distribution Model for OpenFlow-Based Networks

OpenFlow, a popular software-defined networking (SDN) standard, is a promising approach to computer networks that adapts to current developments in information technology. Although the OpenFlow architecture facilitates the effective dynamic control of substantial networks from a centralized logical framework, it is vulnerable to single-point of failures when dealing with a substantial increase in traffic. Studies show that task distribution has potential to address single-point of failures. In this paper, a distribution model is introduced to reduce the load on the SDN controller by moving the distribution task of the data from the controller into one or more of its associated switches. This approach utilizes any available and accessible network devices to enable task distribution proficiently without requiring any additional resources. A simulation program using Python code is developed to evaluate the impact of using distributor switches on performance of the controller. Experimental results demonstrate that the measure of data transmitted by the controller is decreased by up to 76%, while the total transmission delay of entries is reduced by up to 29%.