cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BILINEAR ESTIMATES ON CURVED SPACE–TIMES

To settle the L2 bounded curvature conjecture for the Einstein-vaccum equations one needs to prove bilinear type estimates for solutions of the homogeneous wave equation on a fixed background with H2 local regularity. In this paper we introduce a notion of primitive parametrix for the homogeneous wave equation for which we can prove, under very broad assumptions, the desired bilinear estimates.
Characterization of the repressor function of the nuclear orphan receptor retinoid receptor-related testis-associated receptor/germ cell nuclear factor

Retinoid receptor-related testis-associated receptor (RTR)/germ cell nuclear factor is a nuclear orphan receptor that plays an important role in the control of gene expression during early embryonic development and gametogenesis. It has been shown to repress transcriptional activation. In this study, we further characterize this repressor function. We demonstrate that RTR can suppress the transcriptional activation induced by the estrogen receptor related-receptor alpha1 through its response element. The latter is at least in part due to competition for binding to the same response element. In addition, RTR inhibits basal transcriptional activation, indicating that it functions as an active repressor. Mammalian two-hybrid analyses showed that RTR interacts with the co-repressor nuclear co-repressor (N-CoR) but is unable to interact with the co-repressor SMRT or RIP140. Pull-down analyses with glutathione S-transferase-RTR fusion protein demonstrated that RTR physically interacts with N-CoR in vitro, suggesting a potential role for N-CoR in the transcriptional repression by RTR. To identify the regions in RTR essential for the binding of RTR to N-CoR, the effect of various deletion and point mutations on this interaction was examined. This analysis revealed that this interaction requires the hinge domain, helix 3 as well as the helix 12 region of RTR. The residues Ser(246)-Tyr(247) in the hinge domain, Lys(318) in helix 3, and Lys(489)-Thr(490) in helix 12 are identified as being critical in this interaction. Our results demonstrate that RTR can function as an active transcriptional repressor and that this repression can be mediated through interactions with the co-repressor N-CoR. We show that this interaction exhibits several characteristics unique to RTR. Through its repressor function, RTR can suppress the induction of transcriptional activation by other nuclear receptors. These repressor activities may provide important mechanisms by which RTR regulates gene expression during development and gametogenesis.
Introduction: Agriculture, Trade, and the Global Governance of Food

For most of human history, people consumed what they produced and produced what they consumed. The current era is notable, however, in that more people than ever before are no longer directly invol...
Searching for Spurious Solar and Sky Lines in the Fermi-LAT Spectrum

We search for a unified instrumental explanation of the spectral features seen near ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}=130$ GeV in photons collected by Fermi-LAT from the galactic center and from the Earth's limb. We report for the first time a similar feature in photons originating from the vicinity of the Sun, and examine the instrumental characteristics of this Solar feature. To test an instrumental hypothesis, we identify the range of photon incident angles where most of the peak photons are observed in these three spectral features. An examination of the spectrum of photons from the rest of the sky in this angular region reveals a hint of a spectral feature near ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}=130\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. These results cast further doubt on the dark-matter-annihilation interpretation of the galactic center peak.
Extensional viscosity and recoil in highly dilute polymer solutions

As one part of a current study of turbulent drag reduction with dilute polymer solutions, the behavior of these materials has been investigated in flow through an orifice. For such a geometry, many polymer melts and solutions adopt a wine glass stem appearance, consisting of a narrow rapidly converging central region, surrounded by large slowly recirculating eddies. Metzer, Uebler, and Chan Man Fong have analyzed the kinematics of this flow, arguing that large tensile streses may arise within the converging section of the flow field. These stresses are reflected in the value of the pressure loss which may be significantly elevated relative to that of the solvent, even at extremely low polymer concentrations. Additional evidence of this effect is reported in the present work, along with a description of the recoil which occurs following sudden cessation of flow. This recoil effect offers a striking visual confirmation of the high extensional stresses which can develop in these systems.
Calculating the life extension achieved by reducing nuclear accident frequency

Improvements in nuclear safety are often achieved through introducing a new safety measure that reduces the frequency of a hazardous accident rather than its consequences. To carry out a J-value analysis, it is necessary to calculate how a reduction in accident frequency extends the life expectancy of the potentially exposed group of people. The paper presents two methods for calculating the loss of life expectancy associated with accidents of a certain severity occurring with a defined frequency. The first begins by using an equivalent, prolonged radiation exposure to represent the effects of the accident occurring once per year over the given period of operation. The resultant loss of life expectancy is then scaled by multiplying by the frequency of occurrence. The second method calculates the loss of life expectancy brought about by a single accident occurring during the given period of operation and scales this by multiplying by both the length of the operational period and the frequency of occurrence. Results derived using the first method show that there is a relatively small effect on loss of life expectancy per accident if several accidents are assumed to occur during a typical period of operation. This conclusion permits a simple assessment of the effect of possible, multiple accidents. The accuracy of the second method is found not to be compromised materially by ignoring the possibility of multiple accidents. The second method is shown to be slightly more conservative than the first, and also somewhat more accurate. Calculations of the loss of life expectancy may be carried out before and after the new safety improvement has been implemented, and the difference between the two results will be the life extension brought about by the new safety measure.
Commensal bacteria at the interface of host metabolism and the immune system

The mammalian gastrointestinal tract, the site of digestion and nutrient absorption, harbors trillions of beneficial commensal microbes from all three domains of life. Commensal bacteria, in particular, are key participants in the digestion of food, and are responsible for the extraction and synthesis of nutrients and other metabolites that are essential for the maintenance of mammalian health. Many of these nutrients and metabolites derived from commensal bacteria have been implicated in the development, homeostasis and function of the immune system, suggesting that commensal bacteria may influence host immunity via nutrient- and metabolite-dependent mechanisms. Here we review the current knowledge of how commensal bacteria regulate the production and bioavailability of immunomodulatory, diet-dependent nutrients and metabolites and discuss how these commensal bacteria-derived products may regulate the development and function of the mammalian immune system.
Growth regimes and the time development of lateral habits in polyethylene crystals

Abstract On the assumption that in regime I the growth rate of the lateral face of a lamellar crystal is proportional to the length of the face, and that in regime II the growth rate is independent of the length of the face, the time development of the size and aspect ratio of a polyethylene lamellar crystal is calculated. The aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of the length of the crystal in the b crystallographic direction to that in the a direction. It is assumed that steady state growth obtains, i.e. the solution concentration is constant. When both {110} and (200) faces are in regime I, the dimensions of the crystal increase exponentially in time, and lozenge shape (i.e. a crystal bounded by {110} faces) cannot be obtained under experimentally realizable conditions. When one of the faces is in regime I and the other in regime II, novel time dependencies of the crystal size and shape are derived, none of which has heretofore been observed. Despite the fact that the experimental conditions have never been realized in growth from solution, the now well-known fact that in regime I the growth rate is not proportional to the length of the growing face is re-established. Some new ways by which this assumption might be removed are suggested, and qualitative values for the upper bound for the ‘substrate length’ over which growth takes place from a nucleation event are discussed.
Proton translocation during denitrification by a nitrifying--denitrifying Alcaligenes sp.

A heterotrophic nitrifying Alcaligenes sp. from soil was grown as a denitrifier on nitrate and subjected to oxidant pulse experiments to ascertain the apparent effeciencies of proton translocations during O2 and nitrogen-oxide respirations. With endogenous substrate as the reducing agent the →H+/2e− ratios, extrapolated to zero amount of oxidant per pulse, were 9.4, 3.7, 4.3 and 3.5 for O2, nitrate, nitrite and N2O, respectively. The value for O2 and those for the N-oxides are, respectively, somewhat larger and smaller than corresponding values for Paracoccus denitrificans. None of the three permeant ions employed with the Alcaligenes sp. (valinomycin-K+, thiocyanate and triphenylmethylphosphonium) was ideal for all purposes. Thiocyanate provided highest ratios for O2 but abolished the oxidant pulse response for nitrate and N2O. Valinomycin was slow to penetrate to the cytoplasmic membrane and relatively high concentrations were required for optimal performance. Triphenylmethylphosphonium enhanced passive proton permeability and diminished proton translocation at concentrations required to realize the maximal oxidant pulse response.
Civil Engineering Capstone Design Course

Increased emphasis on design courses by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology ABET has caused many engineering schools to reevaluate the design component of their curricula. To mak...
THE STRUCTURE OF AMORPHOUS Ni50Ti50 ALLOYS PREPARED BY PROTON IRRADIATION AND MECHANICAL ALLOYING

Abstract X-ray diffraction was used to evaluate the structure of bulk Ni50Ti50, irradiated with 2 MeV protons at 120 and 230K, and of powders of Ni50Ti50, prepared by mechanical alloying of pure powders of Ni and Ti. The diffraction pattern of the mechanically alloyed sample shows only the diffuse peaks of an amorphous structure, whereas the patterns of the irradiated samples show, in addition to the diffuse peaks, crystalline reflections, due to NiTi with the CsCl structure. The total structure factor S(Q) of the irradiated amorphous samples, calculated after subtraction of the crystalline peaks, agrees very well with S(Q) of the mechanically alloyed sample. The Fourier transforms of S(Q) yielded the atomic distribution function G(r) which permitted the evaluation of the interatomic distances.
ANMoLe—An Adaptive Multimedia Content Delivery Middleware Architecture for Heterogeneous Mobile Multi-Device Neighborhoods

Despite the commercial onslaught of multipurpose portable devices such as integrated mobile phone-PDA combos, the need for multiple devices, with each device performing its own pre-defined and specialized function still exists today. The new generation of internet users has been expeditious in imbibing the new generation of divergent devices for their varying needs—cell phones for voice communication, pagers for text messaging and PDAs for notes. Content sources today assume that the end-device used to retrieve the content has certain minimum pre-defined capabilities. The architecture presented in this paper explores a new realm of content delivery where all the devices in a user's neighborhood of devices are united as a single entity for content delivery. This solution exploits the characteristic capabilities of these individual devices to render the retrieved content for the users or in cases where the target devices are limited in capabilities, modifies the content to suite the capabilities of the device. A comprehensive description of the testbed we have built based on this architecture is also described.
Penetration depth of low-coherence enhanced backscattered light in subdiffusion regime.

The mechanisms of photon propagation in random media in the diffusive multiple scattering regime have been previously studied using diffusion approximation. However, similar understanding in the low-order subdiffusion scattering regime is not complete due to difficulties in tracking photons that undergo very few scatterings events. Recent developments in low-coherence enhanced backscattering LEBS overcome these difficulties and enable probing photons that travel very short distances and undergo only a few scattering events. In LEBS, enhanced backscattering is observed under illumination with spatial coherence length Lsc less than the scattering mean free path ls. In order to understand the mechanisms of photon propagation in LEBS in the subdiffusion regime, it is imperative to develop analytical and numerical models that describe the statistical properties of photon trajectories. Here we derive the probability distribution of penetration depth of LEBS photons and report Monte Carlo numerical simulations to support our analytical results. Our results demonstrate that, surprisingly, the transport of photons that undergo low-order scattering events has only weak dependence on the optical properties of the medium ls and anisotropy factor g and strong dependence on the spatial coherence length of illumination, Lsc relative to those in the diffusion regime. More importantly, these low-order scattering photons typically penetrate less than ls into the medium due to the low spatial coherence length of illumination and their penetration depth is proportional to the one-third power of the coherence volume i.e., lsL s 1/3 .
Erosion and deposition of metals and carbon in the DIII-D divertor

Net erosion rates at the outer strike point of the DIII-D divertor plasma were measured for several materials during quiescent H-mode operation with deuterium plasmas. Materials examined include graphite, beryllium, tungsten, vanadium and molybdenum. For graphite, net erosion rates up to 4 nm/sec were found. Erosion rates for the metals were much smaller than for carbon. Ion fluxes from Langmuir probe measurements were used to predict gross erosion by sputtering. Measured net erosion was much smaller than predicted gross erosion. Transport of metal atoms by the plasma across the divertor surface was also examined. Light atoms were transported farther than heavy atoms as predicted by impurity transport models.
Sodium chloride reduces damage to nectarines caused by hot water treatments

Abstract The tolerance of six nectarine ( Prunus persica L. Batch var. (Ait.) Maxim.) cultivars to hot water treatment was evaluated and the effect of addition of NaCl to the treatment solution tested as a means of reducing treatment damage. Hot water immersion was extremely damaging to all cultivars tested, although differences in tolerance existed. Treatment at 50°C for 25 min, a treatment for fruit fly disinfestation, rendered the fruit of all cultivars unmarketable. Sodium chloride at a concentration of 200 mM reduced the mean injury rating averaged over all six cultivars from 3.9 (severe damage) to 1.9 (slight damage), although the latter was still too severe for the fruit to be marketable. At the less injurious temperature of 46°C, the slight amount of injury caused by hot water treatment was eliminated in the presence of NaCl. Flesh firmness was not altered by NaCl in the treatment solution, but firmness was slightly greater in fruit treated at 50°C as compared with 46°C. Sodium chloride reduced damage by effectively reducing the amount of water entering the fruit during treatment and may be useful in reducing the damage from hot water immersion treatments used for surface disinfestation.
Effect of Alkyl Chain Length on the Fluorescence of 9-Alkylfluorenyl Thiols as Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold

Spectral characterization indicates that SAMs of 9-alkylfluorenyl thiols 1 form well-ordered monolayers on polycrystalline gold. Sessile drop contact angle measurements demonstrate the hydrophobic nature of these self-assembled thin films. The thicknesses of the films as measured by optical ellipsometry correspond well to the calculated thickness of monolayer films in which the extended alkyl chains are oriented at a 30° angle to the Au surface. The films are densely packed and are passivating to electron transfer between the Au surface and K4Fe(CN)6 in a contacting aqueous KCl solution. Grazing angle reflectance FTIR spectra show that the aromatic fluorenyl groups are fixed at a defined distance from the Au surface as determined by alkyl chain length disposed in an all-trans conformation. Surface fluorescence spectra for the SAMs are red-shifted and broadened compared with the corresponding molecule's fluorescence when measured in dilute solution. Lifetimes for the terminal fluorenyl groups when bound as...
Tuber yield of true potato seed families from different breeding schemes

Economical and environmental conditions in the south of Italy suggest that the direct utilization of TPS, as propagation material for potatoes, could be worth exploring. Thus, it is important to identify the most appropriate breeding scheme to enhance productivity and uniformity of the progeny. For this purpose 44 TPS families deriving from different breeding schemes and emphasizing different levels of heterozygosity were tested for yield at two locations in the U.S.A. and one in Italy. The results indicate the superiority of the 4x progeny from 4x X 2x crosses as a family group, and in the frequency of high yielding individual families in all locations. The 4x X 2x family group outyielded the OP progeny group by 45%, 79% and 114% at Hancock, Rhinelander (U.S.A.) and in Italy, respectively.
Hyperelliptic Curves with Compact Parameters

We present a family of hyperelliptic curves whose Jacobians are suitable for cryptographic use, and whose parameters can be specified in a highly efficient way. This is done via complex multiplication and identity-based parameters. We also present some novel computational shortcuts for these families.
Neurotensin and the serotonergic system

Abstract The serotonergic system, because of very diffuse projections throughout the central nervous system, has been implicated in numerous functions including nociception, analgesia, sleep-wakefulness and autonomic regulation. Despite an abundant literature indicating the presence of neurotensin-containing (neurotensinergic) neurons, fibres and terminals in most areas containing serotonergic neurons, little is known about the possible relationship between serotonergic and neurotensinergic systems. The purpose of this review is (i) to summarize current knowledge on the anatomical relation between neuro-tensinergic and serotonergic system, (ii) to summarize current knowledge on the action of neurotensin on serotonergic neurons and (iii) to discuss the possible physiological relevance of this action. Neuro-tensin-containing cell bodies can be found in the most rostral raphe nuclei. There are neurotensin-containing fibres and terminals in all raphe nuclei. Raphe nuclei have also been shown to contain neurotensin-receptor binding sites. In the dorsal raphe nucleus, neurotensinsin induces a concentration-dependent increase in the firing rate of a subpopulation of serotonergic neurons. The neurotensin-induced excitation, which is selectively blocked by the non-peptide neurotensin receptor antagonist SR 48692, is observed mainly in the ventral part of the nucleus. Most serotonergic neurons show marked desensitization to neurotensin, even at low concentrations. In intracellular experiments, neurotensin induces an inward current, associated in some cases with a decrease in apparent input conductance, which is occluded by supramaximal concentrations of the α1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine. In rare cases, neurotensin induces an excitation of GABAergic or glutamatergic neurons. Since the neuro-tensinergic system has also been implicated in nociception, analgesia, sleep-wakefulness, and autonomic regulation, the review discusses the possibility that part of this regulation could involve the activation of the serotonergic system.
EPITOPE MAPPING AND USE OF EPITOPE-SPECIFIC ANTISERA TO CHARACTERIZE THE VP5* BINDING SITE IN ROTAVIRUS SA11 NSP4

Rotavirus (RV) is the leading cause of infantile gastroenteritis worldwide. RV nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4), the first characterized viral enterotoxin, is a 28-kDa glycoprotein that has pleiotropic functions in RV infection and pathogenesis. NSP4 has multiple forms enabling it to perform its different functions. Dissecting such functions could be facilitated by use of epitope-specific antibodies. This work mapped the epitopes for the monoclonal antibody B4-2/55 and three polyclonal antisera generated against synthetic SA11 NSP4 peptides corresponding to residues 114-135, 120-147, and 150-175. The epitope for B4-2/55 mapped to residues 100-118, wherein residues E105, R108 and E111 are critical for antibody binding. Antiserum generated to two peptides (aa114-135 and aa120-147) with enterotoxin activity each recognize a single but distinct epitope. The epitope for the peptide antiserum to aa114-135 was mapped to residues 114-125 with highly conserved residues T117/T118, E120, and E122 being critical for antibody binding. The peptide antiserum to aa120-147 binds to NSP4 at residues 130-140 and residues Q137-T138 are critical for this epitope. Finally, the epitope for the antiserum to peptide aa150-175 mapped to residues 155-170, wherein residues E160 and E170 are critical for antibody binding. Knowledge of the binding sites of domain-specific antibodies can aid in further characterizing different functions of NSP4. To demonstrate this, we characterized the interaction between NSP4 and VP5() [K(D)=0.47 microM] and show that binding of NSP4 to VP5* is blocked by antibody to NSP4 aa114-135 and aa120-147, but not aa150-175. The use of single epitope-specific antibodies to differentially block functions of NSP4 is a feasible approach to determine the functional domain structure of this important RV virulence factor.
The role of portosystemic shunting in children in the transplant era.

Abstract Purpose: Variceal bleeding in children generally presents in the setting of cirrhosis but may also occur in the absence of liver disease and after successful liver transplantation. The authors reviewed their experience with portosystemic shunting in children to better define its efficacy in sclerotherapy failures, as primary therapy, and its role before and after liver transplantation. Methods: Between 1983 and 1997, 21 children with recurrent variceal bleeding underwent portosystemic shunting at the authors' institution. Patients were divided into two groups: 13 patients in group I presented with intrinsic liver disease (cirrhosis) as a cause for portal hypertension; eight patients in group II with no liver disease had extrahepatic portal venous thrombosis, five of which occured after successful liver transplantation. The mean age was 8.6 years (range, 3 to 18). Shunt procedures were semielective, and were performed successfully in all children without any operative morbidity or mortality. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 15 years. Results: Shunt procedures included splenorenal (n = 15), splenocaval (n = 1), side-to-side splenorenal (n = 1), inferior mesenteric vein to renal vein (n = 1), mesocaval (n = 1), and transcutaneous intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS; n=2). All patients in group II are alive and well with no further bleeding or occlusions. Of the 13 patients in group I, three had bleeding postshunt, and three patients went on to require liver transplantation because of worsening liver disease. One child died of liver failure with encephalopathy 4 years after shunting. There were two shunt occlusions. Conclusions: Portosystemic shunting is effective therapy in patients with intrinsic liver disease, with salvage amenable by liver transplantation in the treatment failures. It is definitive therapy in patients with extrahepatic venous thrombosis.
Suppressing cascades in a self-organized-critical model with non-contiguous spread of failures

Abstract Many complex systems that produce cascading events are thought to be self-organized critical (SOC). So far, models of SOC treat a cascade as a spread strictly between adjacent nodes, while in many real systems, e.g., the power-grid or the brain, this restriction is invalid. Here, we demonstrate for the first time SOC behavior in a model for which the spread is non-contiguous, i.e., not restricted to neighboring nodes. We illustrate our results in a circuit model obeying Kirchhoff’s laws and demonstrate mitigation strategies that avoid large-scale cascades. We found that the following two unconventional strategies break SOC: (1) upgrade lines at random in addition to fixing failures and (2) upgrade a tripped line with one that has a random trip threshold. These results enhance our understanding about the conditions under which SOC can occur and may lead to insights that help avoid catastrophic events in real-world systems.
Probable ice thickness of the arctic ocean

Abstract This paper reviews an extensive body of published and unpublished literature to establish an estimate of the thickness in the ice cover of the Arctic Ocean. No attempt is made to correlate the data with geographical provinces. It is concluded here that the maximum depth of ice likely to be encountered, (99% probability) is in the order of 50 to 55 ft (15 to 17 m).
Female sexual orientation is perceived accurately, rapidly, and automatically from the face and its features

Whereas previous work has shown that male sexual orientation can be accurately and rapidly perceived from the human face and its individual features, no study has examined the judgment of female sexual orientation. To fill this gap, the current work examined the accuracy, speed, and automaticity of judgments of female sexual orientation from the face and from facial features. Study 1 showed that female sexual orientation could be accurately judged from the face and from just eyes without brows and limited to the outer canthi. Study 2 then examined the speed and efficiency of these judgments, showing that judgments of the faces following very brief, near subliminal (40 ms) exposures were significantly better than chance guessing. Finally, Study 3 tested the automaticity of judgments of female sexual orientation by examining the effects of deliberation on accuracy. Participants who made snap judgments of female sexual orientation were significantly more accurate than participants who made thoughtful and deliberated judgments. These data therefore evidence a robust, reliable, and automatic capacity for extracting information about female sexual orientation from nonverbal cues in the face.
A comparison of human aggression committed by groups and individuals: An interindividual–intergroup discontinuity☆

Abstract Experimental research comparing aggressive behavior committed by groups and individuals is important but sparse. This experiment compared aggressive behavior (i.e., amount of hot sauce allocated for others to consume) in four types of interactions: intergroup, interindividual, group-to-individual, and individual-to-group. The results revealed that intergroup interactions were significantly more aggressive than interindividual interactions. In addition, groups allocated and received significantly more hot sauce than individuals. These effects were not explained by diffusion of responsibility or trait aggressiveness. The experiment reveals two noteworthy conclusions: (1) the interindividual–intergroup discontinuity effect extends to aggressive behavior and (2) interactions in which a group is either the source or target of aggression are situational influences that can increase it.
Ignition X-Ray Imager for Laser-Fusion Research at the National Ignition Facility

Summary form only given. X-ray imaging will be an important diagnostic tool for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). However, high neutron yields will make X-ray imaging much more difficult than it is at current smaller facilities. We analyze the feasibility and performance of an ignition X-ray imager to be used on cryogenic DT implosions at NIF. The system is intended to provide time-integrated, broadband, moderate-energy X-ray core images of imploding ICF capsules. Highly magnified, spectrally-filtered images created using an array of pinholes placed close to the target will be projected onto a scintillator placed at the target chamber wall. A telescope will be used to relay the scintillator emission to a distant optical detector that is time-gated in order to minimize backgrounds, in particular from neutrons. The system is optimized with respect to spatial-resolution, signal-to-background and signal-to-noise ratios
Are spotted skunks conspicuous or cryptic

Aposematism and crypticity are viewed as mutually exclusive antipredator defense strategies with skunks being a classic example of the former. Skunks can spray noxious anal secretions and many species (Conepatus and Mephitis spp.) have bold blocks of white fur on black pelage, but spotted skunks (Spilogale sp.) have white spots and lines on a black coat suggesting an additional function. We tested the possibility that spotted skunks are conspicuous at close range but cryptic at a distance. Using quantitative measures of colouration extracted from photographs of taxidermied western spotted skunk, bobcat and striped skunk mounts taken at ≤ 5 m, we found that spotted skunk colouration was significantly more conspicuous than the cryptic bobcat but not than the striped skunk. Differences between mount and background colouration were significantly greater for spotted skunks than for bobcats but not for striped skunks. Both sets of results indicate that spotted skunks match their background poorly when viewed cl...
A systematic review of validated methods for identifying transverse myelitis using administrative or claims data.

Abstract Purpose To identify and assess billing, procedural, or diagnostic code algorithms used to identify transverse myelitis in administrative databases. Methods We searched the MEDLINE database from 1991 to September 2012 using controlled vocabulary and key terms related to transverse myelitis. We also searched the reference lists of included studies. Two investigators independently assessed the full text of studies against pre-determined inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently extracted data regarding participant and algorithm characteristics. Results Three studies met criteria for inclusion in this review. The only algorithm based solely on administrative claims data with a reported positive predictive value included five ICD-9 codes (codes 341.20, 341.21, 341.22, 323.8, 323.9). The positive predictive value for physician-diagnosed acute transverse myelitis was 62%. Conclusions More research is needed to establish an accurate algorithm to identify transverse myelitis in large administrative databases using diagnosis and/or procedure codes. Use of standardized consensus definitions, clear description for algorithm selection, and reporting of validation procedure and results would be most beneficial.
Transmission of sex cells of one species through the body of a second species in the genus Xenopus. II. Interspecific matings.

The primordial germ cells of Xenopus mulleri have been introduced into marked X. laevis at the neurula stage after removal of the host's germ cell complement. Experimental females have laid eggs which closely resemble those of X. mulleri. When fertilized by mulleri sperm, such eggs have developed in accordance with mulleri characteristics. It is concluded that substances which might significantly affect the course of development are not manufactured external to the growing oocyte and then transported into it. Male experimental laevis have also been obtained whose sperm are of mulleri origin. Matings of experimental X. laevis have yielded X. mulleri progeny.
The body composition and lipid metabolic effects of long-term ethanol feeding during a high ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acid diet in micropigs☆☆☆

Abstract Our previous research with miniature pigs has shown that long-term ethanol feeding with a low-fat diet decreases arachidonic acid (20:4ω6) levels in multiple tissues, but we did not find significant liver pathology. In this study, we investigated the effect of ethanol feeding with high dietary linoleic acid (18:2ω6) on tissue fatty acid (FA) profiles and body composition. Five Yucatan micropigs were fed 370 kJ (89 kcal)/kg body weight of a diet containing ethanol and fat as 40% and 34% of energy, respectively; five control pigs were pair-fed corn starch in place of ethanol. Corn oil, 61% 18:2ω6, supplied most of the dietary fat. Liver biopsies were performed at baseline (n = 2 per group) and at three other time points (n = 5 per group). Phospholipid (PL) FA levels were measured by thin-layer and gas chromatography. Body composition was analyzed by underwater weighing of carcasses. Body composition analysis demonstrated a marked reduction of carcass fat in the ethanol group, but no significant reduction of carcass lean weight after 12 months. In liver PLs, the ethanol group showed decreased 20:4ω6 and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6ω3) after 1 month. While the decreased 20:4ω6 remained constant after 1 month, 22:6ω3 showed a progressive decrease up to 12 months, resulting in a continuous decrease of the ω3 ω6 FA ratio. This slowly progressive decrease in the ω3 ω6 ratio in liver PLs with ethanol feeding may have enhanced the inflammatory response in the liver, contributing to liver pathology. Body composition results indicate marked wasting of energy in the ethanol group.
Pitfalls in the use of brain slices.

Abstract In vitro brain slices are the preparation of choice for the detailed examination of local circuit properties in mammalian brain. However it is the investigator's responsibility to verify that the circuits under investigation are indeed confined within the boundaries of the functional region of the slice used. The medium in which the slice is maintained is under the full control of the investigator. This places the burden on the investigator to ensure that: 1. (1) the properties of the medium are fully under contorl; 2. (2) the effects of the medium on the slice are known; 3. (3) the conditions under which the slice is being maintained bear some reas- onble relation to those it enjoys (or endures) in vivo . Generalizations to in vivo conditions must be made with caution. If all possible, similar studies (perhaps less extensive, due to the greater technical difficulties) should be done in vivo to provide a basis for comparison. Investigators using drugs should be aware of, and respect, the basic pharma- cological principles cited in the text. In particular, the substantial freedom the investigator has in defining the extracellular medium should not be abused.
Mutations in myotilin cause myofibrillar myopathy

Background and Objective: The term myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) is a noncommittal term for a pathologic pattern of myofibrillar dissolution associated with accumulation of myofibrillar degradation products and ectopic expression of multiple proteins. Ultrastructural studies implicate the Z-disk as the site of the initial pathologic change, and mutations in two Z-disk-related proteins, desmin and αB-crystallin, have been identified in a minority of patients with MFM. The authors’ objective was to determine whether mutations in myotilin, a key Z-disk component and the disease protein in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) 1A, are another cause of MFM. Methods: The authors used histochemical, immunocytochemical, ultrastructural, and mutation analysis. Results: The authors detected four missense mutations in 6 of 57 patients with MFM in the serine-rich exon 2 of MYOT , where the two previously identified LGMD1A mutations are located. Three mutations were novel, and one had been previously identified in LGMD1A. Each patient had evidence for neuropathy, and at least three kinships had associated cardiomyopathy. Distal weakness greater than proximal weakness was present in three patients. Except for minor differences, the morphologic features were similar to those in other patients with MFM. Conclusions: 1) Mutations in myotilin cause MFM; 2) exon 2 of MYOT is a hotspot for mutations; 3) peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and distal weakness greater than proximal weakness are part of the spectrum of myotilinopathy; 4) not all cases of myotilinopathy have a limb-girdle phenotype; and 5) the molecular basis of the majority of MFM cases remains to be discovered.
Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis: Effect of Start-Up Solvent in a Slurry Reactor

The effect of start-up solvent on the performance of cobalt-based catalysts and potassium-promoted precipitated iron catalysts was investigated during Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis by using a continuously stirred tank reactor. In this study, four different molecular weight start-up solvents were tested: Polywax-3000 ( $$\overline{MW}$$ (average molecular weight) = 3,000), Polywax-2000 ( $$\overline{MW}$$ = 2,000), Polywax-500 ( $$\overline{MW}$$ = 500) and C-30 oil ( $$\overline{MW}$$ = 420). The conversion and selectivities (methane, C5+ and CO2) were essentially the same for all the start-up solvents tested for the potassium promoted precipitated iron catalysts suggesting that there was no significant effect of startup solvent for the iron catalyst tested. However, with the cobalt catalyst, conversion varied with solvent, with the conversion increasing with decreasing molecular weight of the solvent. This is considered to be due to the particle size of the cobalt alumina catalysts being large relative to that of iron that was used. Under synthesis conditions, the iron catalyst attrits to form a measurable fraction of 1–3 micron sized particles in the lower range of the particle size distribution, whereas the alumina support retains essentially the same, larger size during synthesis. Thus, the decrease in conversion with time is likely to be a result of pore filling with solvent into the interior of the catalyst, which increases with increasing molecular weight of the start-up solvent. In obtaining conversion and aging data for FT catalysts, wax accumulation needs to be considered.
Tidal peritoneal dialysis with racemic or L-lactate solutions

To see if rapid lactate absorption on tidal peritoneal dialysis (TPD) would overwhelm D-Iactate metabolism using racemic lactate andlor LIactate metabolism using all L-Iactate, five patients underwent a-h TPD treatments with racemic lactate solution one day and with L-Iactate another. Lactate concentrations (total) were 40 mmolelL, flow rates 27.3 LIB h, tidal and reservoir volumes each 1.5L, tidal cycles 24-26 min, and net ultrafiltration per tidal cycle 70 to 99 mL. Results: Mean absorptions of D and L-Iactate were 24.2 and 25.1%, respectively, compared to glucose at 14.6%. Urea clearances averaged 21.4 mLlmin. Mean blood DIactates at baseline were 0.6 ± 0.5 SD mmolelL and after a h of TPD were 0.6 ± 0.4 and 0.7 ± 0.3 using L-Iactate and racemic solutions, respectively; similar values for L-Iactate were 1.2 ± 0.3 at base line and 1.2 ± 0.3 and 1.2 ± 0.5 after a h with L-Iactate and racemic solutions. d blood pH values were + 0.02 ± 0.01 and + 0.04 ± 0.03, while d bicarbonate values were + 1.7 ± 0.9 and + 0.7 ± 1.0 for the all L and racemic studies, respectively. The total mmoles of L-Iactate absorbed per a h of TPD with all L solution (>300 mmoles) are greater than ever reported for peritoneal dialysis, but did not increase blood lactate levels. It would seem that either type of solution is suitable for TPD. Absorptions and metabolic rates are similar for L-Lactate and D-Lactate.
From Toy Story to CT Scans: Lessons From Pixar for Radiology.

DR ED CATMULL My hope with this talk is that my experiences and the lessons I have learned over the past 40 years in the computer graphics and movie industry might be valuable for other industries, including medicine. I spent 20 years trying tomake the world’s first computer-animated fulllength feature film, then 10 years working to solidify the creative culture at Pixar, and the past 8 years trying to turnDisney Animation Studios around. During this time, I have learned a lot about the pursuit of excellence, commitment to a vision, and, most important, hiring the right people and inspiring them. Todate, we have had 14 consecutive hit movies at Pixar, and consequently, people have the misimpression that these films all began as complete successes. Toput it bluntly, every one of our films (with the possible exception ofToy Story 3) has had challenges when starting out, and a big part of our job at Pixar is transforming these films from “challenges” to “successful.” I don’t mean to say this in a self-effacing way—the movies truly are horrible when they start, and we go through an iterative process to get the films into their final state. A prime example of this process was the movie Up, for which our initial version of the film had virtually nothing in common with what you saw in the final film, and that initial version absolutely did not work—and had to be completely revamped. In any enterprise, new ideas and creativity must start somewhere, and just as important, mistakes at this early stage are not necessarily
Mapping and Quantification of Bulky-Chemical-Induced DNA Damage Using UvrABC Nucleases

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is one of the most versatile and conservative repair systems in the biological kingdom. This repair pathway repairs DNA damage caused by a variety of agents, including ultraviolet light (UV), benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE), N-acetoxy-2-acetyl-aminofluorene (NAAAF), N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-AF), dimethylbenzanthracene diol epoxide (DMBA-DE), and therapeutic drugs (cis-platinum, CC-1065, anthramycin, mitomycin C., and psoralen) in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes (for a review see Friedberg et al., 1995; Sancar and Tang, 1993; van Houten, 1990). The initial step of NER involves the recognition of the damaged bases and dual incisions at the 5′ and 3′ sides of the damaged base(s). In E. coli cells these steps are controlled by three gene products—the UvrA, UvrB, and UvrC proteins. The uvrA, uvrB, and uvrC genes have been cloned into expression vectors allowing relatively large quantities of these proteins to be readily purified without elaborate procedures. Consequently, the biochemical nature of the recognition of DNA damage and of the dual incisions 5′ and 3′ of the damaged base(s) by the coordinative mechanisms of these three proteins have been extensively studied. The details of these reactions can be found in several review articles (Sancar, 1994; Sancar and Tang, 1993; Grossman and Yeung, 1990; van Houten, 1990), and the following four steps represent a brief synopsis of the reactions of the Uvr proteins: 1. 2 UvrA → (UvrA)2 In solution two UvrA proteins may form a dimer. 2. (UvrA)2 + UvrB → (UvrA)2·UvrB The dimeric form of UvrA may bind to damaged DNA or form a complex with UvrB. 3. (UvrA)2·UvrB locates and binds to the damaged base(s) and UvrA is released from the complex. 4. UvrC joins the UvrB-damaged base(s) complex, resulting in 5′ and 3′ incisions.
Power analysis of system-level on-chip communication architectures

For complex system-on-chips (SoCs) fabricated in nanometer technologies, the system-level on-chip communication architecture is emerging as a significant source of power consumption. Managing and optimizing this important component of SoC power requires a detailed understanding of the characteristics of its power consumption. Various power estimation and low-power design techniques have been proposed for the global interconnects that form part of SoC communication architectures (e.g., low-swing buses, bus encoding, etc). While effective, they only address a limited part of communication architecture power consumption. A state-of-the-art communication architecture, viewed in its entirety, is quite complex, comprising several components, such as bus interfaces, arbiters, bridges, decoders, and multiplexers, in addition to the global bus lines. Relatively little research has focused on analyzing and comparing the power consumed by different components of the communication architecture. In this work, we present a systematic evaluation and analysis of the power consumed by a state-of-the-art communication architecture (the AMBA on-chip bus), using a commercial design flow. We focus on developing a quantitative understanding of the relative contributions of different communication architecture components to its power consumption, and the factors on which they depend. We decompose the communication architecture power into power consumed by logic components (such as arbiters, decoders, bus bridges), global bus lines (that carry address, data, and control information), and bus interfaces. We also perform studies that analyze the impact of varying application traffic characteristics, and varying SoC complexity, on communication architecture power. Based on our analyses, we evaluate different techniques for reducing the power consumed by the on-chip communication architecture, and compare their effectiveness in achieving power savings at the system level. In addition to quantitatively reinforcing the view that on-chip communication is an important target for system-level power optimization, our work demonstrates (i) the importance of considering the communication architecture in its entirety, and (ii) the opportunities that exist for power reduction through careful communication architecture design.
Who Enters Teaching? Encouraging Evidence That the Status of Teaching Is Improving:

The relatively low status of teaching as a profession is often given as a factor contributing to the difficulty of recruiting teachers, the middling performance of American students on international assessments, and the well-documented decline in the relative academic ability of teachers through the 1990s. Since the turn of the 21st century, however, a number of federal, state, and local teacher accountability policies have been implemented toward improving teacher quality over the objections of some who argue the policies will decrease quality. In this article, we analyze 25 years of data on the academic ability of teachers in New York State and document that since 1999 the academic ability of both individuals certified and those entering teaching has steadily increased. These gains are widespread and have resulted in a substantial narrowing of the differences in teacher academic ability between high- and low-poverty schools and between White and minority teachers. We interpret these gains as evidence th...
Uniform finite generation of compact Lie groups

Abstract Consider a compact connected Lie group G and the corresponding Lie algebra L . Let {X1,…,Xm} be a set of generators for the Lie algebra L . We prove that G is uniformly finitely generated by {X1,…,Xm}. This means that every element K∈G can be expressed as K=eXt1eXt2···eXtl, where the indeterminates X are in the set {X1,…,Xm}, t i ∈ R , i=1,…,l , and the number l is uniformly bounded. This extends a previous result by F. Lowenthal in that we do not require the connected one dimensional Lie subgroups corresponding to the X i , i=1,…,m , to be compact. We link the results to the existence of universal logic gates in quantum computing and discuss the impact on bang bang control algorithms for quantum mechanical systems.