cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical and serological comparisons of “R” and “T” strains of mosquito iridescent virus from Aedes taeniorhynchu

Abstract The relationship between the regular mosquito iridescent virus (RMIV) and the turquoise mosquito iridescent virus (TMIV) was studied by comparing serological and physical properties of the viruses. Gel diffusion studies with alkaline degraded virus preparations exhibited four antigens common to both viruses, but no unique antigens were detected for either virus. Electron micrographs of infected tissue sections showed tubular structures associated with both RMIV and TMIV. These structures were slightly smaller in diameter than the respective virus with which they were associated and their possible significance is discussed. RMIV and TMIV sedimented at different rates in sucrose density gradients, and RMIV was found to be slightly more dense than TMIV by equilibrium ultracentrifugation in cesium chloride. Also, RMIV was found to be larger than TMIV on the basis of measurements from electron micrographs of tissue sections.
Electronic and transport properties of perfect sp2-bonded amorphous graphitic carbon.

The electronic and transport properties of a perfect amorphous graphitic carbon model constructed by Townsend et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 69, 921 (1992)] are studied by first-principles calculations within the local-density approximation. It is shown that such a random system with two-dimensional interaction in a three-dimensional structure is a high-resistivity metal. A zero-temperature resistivity of about 1160 \ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\Omega} cm and a positive thermopower at low temperature are obtained. Localized states near the Fermi level are induced by subtle difference in the \ensuremath{\pi} bonding of different ring structures. Relaxation time due to elastic electron-electron scattering and the Fermi velocity are estimated to be 2.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}$ s and 2.61\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{4}$ m/s, respectively.
The importin β binding domain as a master regulator of nucleocytoplasmic transport

Specific and efficient recognition of import cargoes is essential to ensure nucleocytoplasmic transport. To this end, the prototypical karyopherin importin β associates with import cargoes directly or, more commonly, through import adaptors, such as importin α and snurportin. Adaptor proteins bind the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) of import cargoes while recruiting importin β via an N-terminal importin β binding (IBB) domain. The use of adaptors greatly expands and amplifies the repertoire of cellular cargoes that importin β can efficiently import into the cell nucleus and allows for fine regulation of nuclear import. Accordingly, the IBB domain is a dedicated NLS, unique to adaptor proteins that functions as a molecular liaison between importin β and import cargoes. This review provides an overview of the molecular role played by the IBB domain in orchestrating nucleocytoplasmic transport. Recent work has determined that the IBB domain has specialized functions at every step of the import and export pathway. Unexpectedly, this stretch of ~40 amino acids plays an essential role in regulating processes such as formation of the import complex, docking and translocation through the nuclear pore complex (NPC), release of import cargoes into the cell nucleus and finally recycling of import adaptors and importin β into the cytoplasm. Thus, the IBB domain is a master regulator of nucleocytoplasmic transport, whose complex molecular function is only recently beginning to emerge. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Regulation of Signaling and Cellular Fate through Modulation of Nuclear Protein Import.
Turkey's Republican People's Party: Politics of Opposition under a Dominant Party System

AbstractThis article seeks to account for the prolonged inability of the Republican People's Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP) to be considered as a credible alternative to the governing Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi, AKP). Accounting for this is relevant from two perspectives: the emergence of a dominant party system during the AKP decade, and the increased rhetoric and public discourse stressing the “lack of [credible] opposition parties” in the party spectrum. The article attributes the CHP's electoral malaise to a mixture structural and leadership problems specific to the party organization. This argument, however, is placed against the backdrop of the dominant distributive position that the incumbent occupies in Turkey's political arena. The AKP's domination of both national and local government, typified by a service-oriented governing style, serves to undermine not just the CHP's chances of success, but virtually all opposition parties.
MECHANISM OF THE HARDENING OF CLAY‐SODIUM‐SILICATE MIXTURES*

Acid salts, such as might be expected to be present in clays, reacted readily with sodium-silicate solutions and produced marked changes in viscosity out of contact with air. Magnesium salts gave the most gelatinous and bulky precipitates. Experiments with fuller's earth and a plastic fire clay, which were free of soluble salts and were saturated with hydrogen, indicated that base-exchange reactions may also cause hardening of silicate mixtures out of contact with air. Natural plastic fire clays, which contained negligible amounts of soluble salts, were found to harden out of contact with air when calcium and magnesium were present as exchangeable bases, but they did not harden when these bases were absent. It was found possible to prevent hardening of clay-sodium-silicate mixtures by subjecting the clay to a preliminary treatment with nonprecipitating sodium ions, introduced as sodium carbonate, before mixing the clay with sodium silicate.
Bcl-Xlong Protein Expression and Phosphorylation in Granulosa Cells

Expression of Bcl-x protein was evaluated in hen ovarian follicles, relative to stage of development, and in cultured granulosa cells after treatment with various apoptosis-suppressing or -inducing agents. Using Western blot analysis, Bcl-Xlong was most frequently observed migrating as a doublet with a molecular mass of approximately 28 kDa; the apparent higher molecular mass band of this doublet was determined to represent a phosphorylated form. Consistent with previous findings reported for bcl-x messenger RNA, only the Bcl-Xlong (apoptosis-suppressing) form of protein was detected in the hen granulosa cells, and highest levels of Bcl-Xlong protein (sum of the protein doublet) expression were found in granulosa from preovulatory follicles together with tissues with immune function (e.g. spleen and bone marrow). Evidence for Bcl-Xshort expression was found only in the theca and several nonovarian tissues. Immunocytochemical analysis of preovulatory vs. prehierarchal follicles confirmed the comparatively ...
On Identification by Probability

Abstract This paper considers the use of probability in identifying the source (such as a victim, criminal, or object) of some physical evidence (such as a bloodstain). It is common to use the probability that the characteristics observed in the evidence would occur at random; however, this is misleading because the number of possible sources of the evidence is not considered. When the corresponding attributes of the suspected source are not all known, one might use “non-exclusion” probabilities or related calculations; but these make inefficient use of the available information. Methods are given for taking the number of possible identities into account in both the known- and unknown-attributes cases. Finally, we consider the situation where partial information is available concerning several suspected sources, and suggest ways of explaining the calculations in layman's terms.
Carbon fibre reinforced aluminium matrix composites: A critical review

ABSTRACT The state-of-the-art technology on the carbon fibre reinforced aluminium matrix composites is reviewed. The available raw material, various fabrication techniques along with their effects on the properties of the composites produced and the manufacturing problems encountered are described in detail. General trends are outlined and further research and development work on composites containing pitch base carbon fibres in a matrix of high strength aluminium alloy is recommended.
Chemical agents and peptides affect hair growth.

Abstract During the past decade we have examined both the therapeutic and the prophylactic effects of several agents on the macaque model of androgenetic alopecia. Minoxidil and diazoxide, potent hypotensive agents acting as peripheral vasodilators, are known to have a hypertrichotic side effect. Topical use of both agents induced significant hair regrowth in the bald scalps of macaques. The application of a steroid 5α-reductase inhibitor (4MA) in non-bald preadolescent macaques has prevented baldness, whereas controls developed it during 2 years of treatment. The effects of hair growth were determined by 1) phototrichogram, 2) folliculogram (micromorphometric analysis), and 3) the rate of DNA synthesis in the follicular cells. These effects were essentially a stimulation of the follicular cell proliferation, resulting in an enlargement of the anagen follicles from vellus to terminal type (therapy) or a maintenance of the prebald terminal follicles (prevention). A copper binding peptide (PC1031) had the effect of follicular enlargement on the back skin of fuzzy rats, covering the vellus follicles; the effect was similar to that of topical minoxidil. Analyzing the quantitative sequences of follicular size and cyclic phases, we speculate on the effect of agents on follicular growth. We also discuss the triggering mechanism of androgen in the follicular epithelial-mesenchymal (dermal papilla) interaction.
Sin and Ecology: A Conversation with Jürgen Moltmann and the School of René Girard

Abstract This essay will compare the approaches of Jurgen Moltmann and Rene Girard and those who follow his social criticism, in the light of the need for an ecological reinterpretation of the nature of sin. Sin, and the doctrine of original sin in the Western tradition goes to the very basis of the Christian story and the concept gospel. Good news is there to address bad news. In turn, the story of good news in the Christian tradition requires a thorough exploration of bad news. The need for an ecologically sound harmartiology begs the question of ktisiology and the very nature of ‘God the Father Creator of heaven and earth’. It leads us to ask: Why is the Christian faith a salvific faith? Why redemption and what is it?
Coating of hydroxyapatite films on metal substrates by seeded hydrothermal deposition

Abstract Hydroxyapatite (HAP) was successfully coated on various metal substrates by a novel seeded hydrothermal deposition method. A nanoscale HAP seed layer was first formed by a short electrochemical synthesis. The seed layer promotes HAP crystal growth onto the surface during a subsequent hydrothermal crystallization step. The surface morphology and microstructure of the HAP coatings can be regulated by varying the reaction temperature, solution pH, calcium-to-phosphorus molar ratio in the starting solution, and hydrothermal deposition time. The new method has advantages over many other reported HAP deposition techniques in that it produces highly crystalline, crack-free, adherent films of uniform thickness. In all the films, the HAP crystals are preferentially oriented with the c-axis normal to the substrate. The as-developed HAP coatings are attractive for applications in the area of bioactive surface modification of metallic implants where the microstructure of the film is advantageous for promoting bone growth.
Posttranscriptional Upregulation by MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA guide molecules that regulate gene expression via association with effector complexes and sequence-specific recognition of target sites on other RNAs; misregulated microRNA expression and functions are linked to a variety of tumors, developmental disorders, and immune disease. MicroRNAs have primarily been demonstrated to mediate posttranscriptional downregulation of expression; translational repression, and deadenylation-dependent decay of messages through partially complementary microRNA target sites in mRNA untranslated regions (UTRs). However, an emerging assortment of studies, discussed in this review, reveal that microRNAs and their associated protein complexes (microribonucleoproteins or microRNPs) can additionally function to posttranscriptionally stimulate gene expression by direct and indirect mechanisms. These reports indicate that microRNA-mediated effects can be selective, regulated by the RNA sequence context, and associated with RNP factors and cellular conditions. Like repression, translation upregulation by microRNAs has been observed to range from fine-tuning effects to significant alterations in expression. These studies uncover remarkable, new abilities of microRNAs and associated microRNPs in gene expression control and underscore the importance of regulation, in cis and trans, in directing appropriate microRNP responses.
Helminth.net: expansions to Nematode.net and an introduction to Trematode.net

Helminth.net (http://www.helminth.net) is the new moniker for a collection of databases: Nematode.net and Trematode.net. Within this collection we provide services and resources for parasitic roundworms (nematodes) and flatworms (trematodes), collectively known as helminths. For over a decade we have provided resources for studying nematodes via our veteran site Nematode.net (http://nematode.net). In this article, (i) we provide an update on the expansions of Nematode.net that hosts omics data from 84 species and provides advanced search tools to the broad scientific community so that data can be mined in a useful and user-friendly manner and (ii) we introduce Trematode.net, a site dedicated to the dissemination of data from flukes, flatworm parasites of the class Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes. Trematode.net is an independent component of Helminth.net and currently hosts data from 16 species, with information ranging from genomic, functional genomic data, enzymatic pathway utilization to microbiome changes associated with helminth infections. The databases' interface, with a sophisticated query engine as a backbone, is intended to allow users to search for multi-factorial combinations of species' omics properties. This report describes updates to Nematode.net since its last description in NAR, 2012, and also introduces and presents its new sibling site, Trematode.net.
Modeling and identification of nonlinear electroelastic and dissipative parameters for PZT-5A and PZT-5H bimorphs: a dynamical systems approach

Electroelastic and dissipative nonlinearities of commonly used soft piezoelectrics (PZT-5A and PZT-5H) are pronounced in various engineering applications such as actuation, sensing, vibration control, and most recently, in energy harvesting from dynamical systems. The present work investigates the nonlinear nonconservative dynamic behavior of bimorph piezoelectric cantilevers under low-to-high excitation levels with a focus on most popular soft piezoceramics: PZT-5A and PZT-5H. A unified mathematical framework we recently developed is analyzed by using the method of harmonic balance to identify and validate nonlinear system parameters based on a set of rigorous experiments for different samples.
The spatial distribution of submicron-sized debris in the terrestrial magnetosphere

Abstract Computer simulations were carried out to follow the evolution of the spatial distribution of submicron sized Al2O3 particles, dumped into the terrestrial magnetosphere during solid rocket propellant burns.
Extending WHIRL with background knowledge for improved text classification

Intelligent use of the many diverse forms of data available on the Internet requires new tools for managing and manipulating heterogeneous forms of information. This paper uses WHIRL, an extension of relational databases that can manipulate textual data using statistical similarity measures developed by the information retrieval community. We show that although WHIRL is designed for more general similarity-based reasoning tasks, it is competitive with mature systems designed explicitly for inductive classification. In particular, WHIRL is well suited for combining different sources of knowledge in the classification process. We show on a diverse set of tasks that the use of appropriate sets of unlabeled background knowledge often decreases error rates, particularly if the number of examples or the size of the strings in the training set is small. This is especially useful when labeling text is a labor-intensive job and when there is a large amount of information available about a particular problem on the World Wide Web.
Visual backward masking of selected visemes.

Five adult subjects with normal hearing and vision viewed tachistoscopically projected photographs of a talker uttering six phonemes. Experiment 1 determined discrimination of the visemes as a func...
Semiconductors: an eye for impurity.

As electronic devices become smaller, so the challenge of maintaining their electrical properties grows. Identifying the positions of introduced impurities in a semiconductor crystal is a major first step.
History of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Is Associated with Increased Cognitive Reappraisal Ability

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. Little is known, however, about the specific psychological skills that may improve with MBCT. The present study investigated the relationship between history of MBCT and emotion regulation ability. Specifically, we examined cognitive reappraisal ability (CRA) in a sample of individuals with a history of MBCT compared with two control groups: a group without a history of any type of therapy and a group with a history of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Groups were matched on key variables including age, sex, education, working memory, emotional reactivity, and life stress. CRA was measured using a standardized laboratory challenge. Results indicated that participants with a history of MBCT demonstrated higher CRA than both the no-therapy control group and the CBT control group. These results suggest that, by guiding people to accept thoughts and feelings without judgment and to focus on the present moment, MBCT may lay the foundation for increased CRA.
Fatigue Mechanisms in Graphite/SiC Composites at Room and High Temperature

Some deductions have been made from fractographic evidence about mechanisms of low-cycle mechanical fatigue in plain woven graphite/SiC composites at room and high temperature in vacuum. At both room temperature and 830°C, fatigue appears to be confined to the crack wake, where attrition reduces the efficacy of bridging fibers. It is inferred that the crack tip advances at some critical value of the crack tip stress intensity factor, as in monotonic growth, rather than by any intrinsic fatigue mechanism in the matrix. However, the manifestations of attrition are very different at room and high temperatures. At high temperature, wear is greatly accelerated by the action of SiC debris within the crack. This distinction is rationalized in terms of the temperature dependence expected in the opening displacement of a bridged crack. This argument leads in turn to plausible explanations of trends in loadlife curves and the morphology of cracks as the temperature rises.
The Enlightened Epicureanism of Jacques Abbadie: L’Art de se connoı̂tre soi-même and the morality of self-interest

Jacques Abbadie's L’Art de se connoi^tre soi-meme (1692) was an influential attempt to describe an alternative to Jansenist moral theory. Abbadie drew upon Rene Descartes’ theory of the passions in order to arrive at an Epicurean moral theory that was based on the pursuit of happiness as pleasure, but that avoided the materialism of Epicurean physics. In this way, Abbadie was able to distinguish between the natural and legitimate principle of self-love and its corruption, and to argue that genuine moral behaviour and ultimately even human moral perfection could arise from the former.
Kappa opioid agonists inhibit transmitter release from guinea pig hippocampal mossy fiber synaptosomes.

Opioid agonists specific for the μ, δ, and κ opioid receptor subtypes were tested for their ability to modulate potassium-evoked release of L-glutamate and dynorphin B-like immunoreactivity from guinea pig hippocampal mossy fiber synaptosomes. The κ opioid agonists U-62,066E and (−) ethylketocyclazocine, but not the μ agonist [D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAGO) nor the δ agonist [D-Pen2,5]enkephalin (DPDE), inhibited the potassium-evoked release of L-glutamate and dynorphin B-like immunoreactivity. U-62,066E, but not DAGO or DPDE, also inhibited the potassium-evoked rise in mossy fiber synaptosomal cytosolic Ca2+ levels, indicating a possible mechanism for κ agonist inhibition of transmitter release. DAGO and DPDE were found to be without any effect on cytosolic Ca2+ levels or transmitter release in this preparation. The U-62,066E inhibition of the potassium-evoked rise in synaptosomal cytosolic Ca2+ levels was partially attenuated by the opioid antagonist quadazocine and insensitive to the δ-opioid specific antagonist ICI 174,864 and the μ opioid-preferring antagonists naloxone and naltrexone. Quadazocine also reversed U-62,066E inhibition of the potassium-evoked release of L-glutamate, but not dynorphin B-like immunoreactivity. These results suggest that κ opioid agonists inhibit transmitter release from mossy fiber terminals through both κ opioid and non-κ opioid receptor mediated mechanisms.
Parallel Multicategory Support Vector Machines (PMC-SVM) for Classifying Microcarray Data

Multicategory support vector machines (MC-SVM) are powerful classification systems with excellent performance in a variety of biological classification problems. However, the process of generating models in traditional multicategory support vector machines is very time-consuming, especially for large datasets. In this paper, parallel multicategory support vector machines (PMC-SVM) have been developed based on the sequential minimum optimization-type decomposition methods for support vector machines (SMO-SVM). It was implemented in parallel using MPI and C++ on both shared memory supercomputer and Linux clusters, and used for multicategory classification. The performance of PMC-SVM has been analyzed and evaluated using several datasets including two microarray datasets with totally 31 diagnostic categories, 25 cancer types and 12 normal tissue types. The experiments show that the PMC-SVM can significantly improve the performance of classification without loss of accuracy, compared with previous work
Biosensor Techniques Used for Determination of Telomerase Activity in Cancer Cells

Measuring telomerase activity has proven successful for the determination of cancer in malignant somatic cells. Early conventional methods for the detection of telomerase activity include in vitro analysis via a primer extension assay, and the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. TRAP incorporates the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) step to increase the sensitivity of a given sample. However, research suggests that the TRAP technique suffers from false negative results, caused by failure of its PCR step. Other limitations of TRAP include the post-PCR steps involving polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which are time inefficient. Thus, various efforts have been made to eliminate the PCR step of TRAP by using a variety of biosensor detection devices. This review mainly focuses on these alternatives including: optical, electrochemical, magnetic, and nanowire conductive signaling techniques to measure the telomerase activity produced via label free biosensor assay—via biocatalytic labels involving beacons, DNAzyme, ferrocenyl-naphthalene diimides, avidin-alkaline phosphatase and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). These biosensor techniques are sensitive and provide precise and rapid results in the detection of telomerase activity.
Visual tracking with deformation models

A novel solution to the 2-D tracking problem is presented. This solution has two major components: a deformation model that constrains the interpretation of motion, and a set of energy-based match criteria that specify image features to be used in tracking. The separation of the motion model from the match features is an advantage of this approach over previous tracking systems. An implementation of these ideas has been shown to exhibit fast and flexible operation over a wide class of image motions. Experimental results are given for two real-world image sequences. >
TORSIONAL AND ANGULAR DEFORMITIES

A general understanding of the cause and natural history of rotational and angular malalignment of the lower extremity allows accurate differentiation between pathologic and physiologic conditions. One can then educate the involved and often concerned family and proceed with observational management of physiologic conditions as spontaneous improvement of alignment can be expected. Aside from treatment for resistant metatarsus adductus, other forms of treatment, such as special shoes, casts, or braces, are rarely beneficial and have no proven efficacy. Persistent deformity beyond skeletal maturity is unusual and rarely causes significant functional disability. In rare cases of severe residual deformity, operative correction is the only effective treatment.
Model studies and a new melt polycondensation route to poly‐bisphenol a–iso/terephthalate (polyarylate)

Alternate syntheses of polyarylate from dimethyl iso/terephthalate (DMI/DMT) and bisphenol-A (BPA) or bisphenol-A diacetate (BPAOAc) were investigated using a variety of catalysts. The model exchange of DMT with 4-t-butylphenol with loss of methanol proceeded moderately rapidly at rather low temperature (170°C) to produce to mono- and di-t-butylphenyl terephthalates. Dibutyltin oxide is the preferred catalyst. Alkali metal phenoxides are almost as effective but were less soluble. The model reaction of DMT with 4-tert-butylphenyl acetate involving loss of methyl acetate gave comparable results using dibutyltin oxide as catalyst. Based on these model results, polycondensations of DMI/DMT with BPAOAc under optimal conditions, gave polyarylate having an inherent viscosity 0.34 dL g−1 in quantitative yield and light brown color. Polycondensation with BPA was unsatisfactory in terms of yield, molecular weight, and color.
EFFECT OF MODEL'S METHOD OF SOLUTION ON OBSERVER'S SOLUTION OF ANAGRAMS

-Female college subjects (n = 80) observed a female confederate solve 15 five-letter anagrams which permitted either an order (32145) or a caregory solution (nature). Subjects were then tested on 10 anagrams which permitted only one of the solutions. Combinations of observed solutions and tests formed four conditions: Order--Order, Nature--Order, NatureNature, and Order-Nature. Subjects in the Order--Order condition solved the test anagrams significantly faster than subjects in the Nature-Order condition and subjects in the Nature-Nature condition solved significantly faster than subjects in the Order-Nature condition. The results suggest that observers may covertly imitate the model and acquire a method of solution that interferes with their subsequent performance.
Affective neuroscience and psychophysiology: Toward a synthesis

This article reviews the author's program of research on the neural substrates of emotion and affective style and their behavioral and peripheral biological correlates. Two core dimensions along which affect is organized are approach and withdrawal. Some of the key circuitry underlying approach and withdrawal components of emotion is reviewed with an emphasis on the role played by different sectors of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala. Affective style refers to individual differences in valence-specific features of emotional reactivity and regulation. The different parameters of affective style can be objectively measured using specific laboratory probes. Relations between individual differences in prefrontal and amygdala function and specific components of affective style are illustrated. The final section of the article concludes with a brief discussion of plasticity in the central circuitry of emotion and the possibility that this circuitry can be shaped by training experiences that might potentially promote a more resilient, positive affective style. The implications of this body of work for a broader conception of psychophysiology and for training the next generation of psychophysiologists are considered in the conclusion.
Impact of Early Deafness and Early Exposure to Sign Language on the Cerebral Organization for Motion Processing

This functional magnetic resonance imaging study investigated the impact of early auditory deprivation and/or use of a visuospatial language [American sign language (ASL)] on the organization of neural systems important in visual motion processing by comparing hearing controls with deaf and hearing native signers. Participants monitored moving flowfields under different conditions of spatial and featural attention. Recruitment of the motion-selective area MT-MST in hearing controls was observed to be greater when attention was directed centrally and when the task was to detect motion features, confirming previous reports that the motion network is selectively modulated by different aspects of attention. More importantly, we observed marked differences in the recruitment of motion-related areas as a function of early experience. First, the lateralization of MT-MST was found to shift toward the left hemisphere in early signers, suggesting that early exposure to ASL leads to a greater reliance on the left MT-MST. Second, whereas the two hearing populations displayed more MT-MST activation under central than peripheral attention, the opposite pattern was observed in deaf signers, indicating enhanced recruitment of MT-MST during peripheral attention after early deafness. Third, deaf signers, but neither of the hearing populations, displayed increased activation of the posterior parietal cortex, supporting the view that parietal functions are modified after early auditory deprivation. Finally, only in deaf signers did attention to motion result in enhanced recruitment of the posterior superior temporal sulcus, establishing for the first time in humans that this polymodal area is modified after early sensory deprivation. Together these results highlight the functional and regional specificity of neuroplasticity in humans.
Au@Pt dendrimer encapsulated nanoparticles as model electrocatalysts for comparison of experiment and theory

In this paper we report the electrochemical synthesis of core@shell dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) consisting of cores containing 147 Au atoms (Au147) and Pt shells having ∼54 or ∼102 atoms (Au147@Ptn (n = 54 or 102)). The significance of this work arises from the correlation of the experimentally determined structural and electrocatalytic properties of these particles with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Specifically, we describe an experimental and theoretical study of Pb underpotential deposition (UPD) on Au147 DENs, the structure of both Au147@Pbn and Au147@Ptn DENs, and the activity of these DENs for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). DFT calculations show that Pb binding is stronger on the (100) facets of Au as compared to (111), and the calculated deposition and stripping potentials are consistent with those measured experimentally. Galvanic exchange is used to replace the surface Pb atoms with Pt, and a surface distortion is found for Au147@Ptn particles using molecular dynamics simulations in which the Pt-covered (100) facets shear into (111) diamond structures. DFT calculations of oxygen binding show that the distorted surfaces are the most active for the ORR, and that their activity is similar regardless of the Pt coverage. These calculations are consistent with rotating ring-disk voltammetry measurements.
Molecular Recognition Properties of FN3 Monobodies that Bind the Src SH3 Domain

We have constructed a phage-displayed library based on the human fibronectin tenth type III domain (FN3) scaffold by randomizing residues in its FG and BC loops. Screening against the SH3 domain of human c-Src yielded six different clones. Five of these contained proline-rich sequences in their FG loop that resembled class I (i.e., +xxPxxP) peptide ligands for the Src SH3 domain. The sixth clone lacked the proline-rich sequence and showed particularly high binding specificity to the Src SH3 domain among various SH3 domains tested. Competitive binding, loop replacement, and NMR perturbation experiments were conducted to analyze the recognition properties of selected binders. The strongest binder was able to pull down full-length c-Src from murine fibroblast cell extracts, further demonstrating the potential of this scaffold for use as an antibody mimetic.
Root production and demography in a california annual grassland under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide

This study examined root production and turnover in a California grassland during the third year of a long-term experiment with ambient (LO) and twice-ambient atmospheric CO2 (HI), using harvests, ingrowth cores, and minirhizotrons. Based on one-time harvest data, root biomass was 32% greater in the HI treatment, comparable to the stimulation of aboveground production during the study year. However, the 30–70% increase in photosynthesis under elevated CO2 for the dominant species in our system is considerably larger than the combined increase in above and belowground biomass. One possible explanation is, increased root turnover, which could be a sink for the additional fixed carbon. Cumulative root production in ingrowth cores from both treatments harvested at four dates was 2–3 times that in the single harvested cores, suggesting substantial root turnover within the growing season. Minirhizotron data confirmed this result, demonstrating that production and mortality occurred simultaneously through much of the season. As a result, cumulative root production was 54%, 47% and 44% greater than peak standing root length for the no chamber (X), LO, and HI plots, respectively. Elevated CO2, however, had little effect on rates of turnover (i.e. rates of turnover were equal in the LO and HI plots throughout most of the year) and cumulative root production was unaffected by treatment. Elevated CO2 increased monthly production of new root length (59%) only at the end of the season (April–June) when root growth had largely ceased in the LO plots but continued in the HI plots. This end-of-season increase in production coincided with an 18% greater soil moisture content in the HI plots previously described. Total standing root length was not affected by CO2 treatment. Root mortality was unaffected by elevated CO2 in all months except April, in which plants grown in the HI plots had higher mortality rates. Together, these results demonstrate that root turnover is considerable in the grassland community and easily missed by destructive soil coring. However, increased fine root turnover under elevated CO2 is apparently not a major sink for extra photosynthate in this system.
A Facility Framework for Distributed Application

The domain of distributed applications is developing rapidly. Facilities to support distributed applications have till now been designed on a case by case basis for each specialized user application. A systematic study and a generic facility framework for executing distributed applications are currently nonexistent and progress towards their development would have a significant impact in the seamless use of distributed applications. In line with these objectives, we have developed a component-based facility framework for distributed applications. The facility is defined as a high level conceptual facility which serves as an infrastructure providing services for distributed applications. The conceptual facility includes hardware and software (e.g. sensors, actuators and controllers) as sub-layers, which are dispersed physically. In this paper, we describe the framework, and examples are used to illustrate potential implementations of important concepts. The workflow of a distributed application is also provided. An implementation of a distributed application, with a partial version of the designed facility framework, for the water level control system of a nuclear power plant steam generator is used for evaluation of the concepts. Results convince us that the implementation as well as the facility is feasible. Application performance is shown to be affected by the time delay of data transmission and reasons for such delay are examined. A network quality test provides statistical estimates of data transmission delays due to the network. The results demonstrate that network quality is not a bottleneck for implementation for implementation of the component-based distributed application and support the hypothesis that a feasible implementation of such a conceptual facility framework is possible.
Modelling observed California Current mesoscale eddies and the ecosystem response

Satellite and in situ observations are used to test model dynamics for the California Current System (CCS). The model and data are combined to reconstruct the mesoscale ocean structure during a given three-week period. The resulting physical flow field is used to drive a 3D ecosystem model to interpret SeaWiFS and in situ chlorophyll-a (chl-a) variations. With this approach a more complete and consistent picture of the physical and ecosystem processes of the CCS is obtained, providing the basis for addressing fundamental questions about dynamics and predictability of the coastal ocean.
Technical Note-Exact Solution for the Bradford Distribution and Its Use in Modeling Informational Data

The Bradford distribution requires a logarithmic relationship between the fraction of items having "productivity" n or more and the total, cumulative "production" of these items. An exact solution is obtained for this distribution for all integer values of n â¥ 1. The result, useful in describing library and other informational data, is compared with the Zipf and the modified geometric distributions. Examples are given of the operational value of representing informational data by one of these distributions. We develop simple tests to see how well a given sample of data conforms to one or the other distribution and apply the tests to two samples; the number of operations research articles appearing in various journals in a given time interval and the rate of use of various physics periodicals in a science library. We show that the first fits the Bradford distribution quite well, while the second fits the modified geometric distribution. We discuss some of the implications of this difference.
An FPGA for multi-chip reconfigurable logic

The Plasma chip, designed specifically to address issues important to custom computing machines (CCM), completes a 100% fully automatic place and route in approximately three seconds. Plasma FPGAs using 0.8 micron CMOS are packaged in large multichip modules (MCMs). Plasma introduces some innovative architecture concepts including hardware support for large multiported register files.
Power, structural and noise performance tests on different wind turbine rotor blade designs

Most blades available for commercial-grade wind turbines incorporate a straight, span-wise profile and airfoil-shaped cross-sections. These blades are found to be very efficient at low and medium wind speeds compared with the potential energy that can be extracted. This paper explores the possibility of increasing the efficiency of the blades by modifying the blade design to incorporate a swept edge. The design intends to maintain efficiency at low to medium wind speeds by selecting the appropriate orientation and size of the airfoil cross-sections based on an oncoming wind speed and given constant rotation rate. The torque generated from a blade with straight-edge geometry is compared with that generated from a blade with a swept edge as predicted by CFD simulations. To validate the simulations, the experimental curve of the NTK500/41 turbine using LM19.1 blades is reproduced using the same computational conditions. In addition, structural deformations, stress distributions and structural vibration modes...
A signature efficient solution for remote file comparison

In distributed systems files are replicated to enhance availability and reliability. The authors provide an algorithm based on coding theory to significantly reduce the number of signatures needed to precisely diagnose differing pages in remotely located file copies. The method needs only one message transmission. A unique feature of this method is the ability to precisely diagnose up to t differing pages with just 2t signatures, independent of the files size. The maximum number of pages in a file is determined only by the number of bits in a signature. If a signature has m bits, the proposed technique can precisely identify t(t >
Dome-distortion and fluorine-lined channels: synthesis, and molecular and crystal structure of a metal- and C–H bonds-free fluorophthalocyanine

The first perfluorinated metal-free phthalocyanine exhibits a dome-like molecular distortion usually induced by large metal ions. Fluorine-lined channels account for ∼ 39% of the unit cell volume. The intermolecular interlocking of peripheral iso-perfluoroalkyl short-chains contributes to these features, which could be used in the rational design of robust materials.
Perceived difficulty, importance, and satisfaction with physical function in COPD patients

Background Research suggests that patients' satisfaction with their physical functioning (SPF) is a critical component of HRQL. This study was designed to examine the extent to which perceptions of physical function and the value placed on physical function are related to satisfaction ratings. The sample consisted of older adults suffering from a progressively debilitating disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
White Attitudes toward Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

White attitudes toward equal opportunity and affirmative action are explored through semi-structured interviews with 246 middle and working class respondents from three areas of the USA. Both working and middle class interviewees espouse a consistent and coherent view: that opportunity is widespread for anyone willing to take advantage of it, that facing adverse conditions or obstacles is not a sufficient excuse for lack of success, and that government help in the form of affirmative action gives women and/or minorities unfair advantage over men and/or whites. In the responses, however, we also find that whites apply standards to others about being the ‘best person for the job’ that they do not apply to themselves in their own career histories. Using the interviews with these respondents, we explore the implications of this inconsistency in how whites apply normative standards about what constitutes merit and fairness. This research helps elucidate the meaning of previous research on white racial attitudes.
Respiratory failure, cleft palate and epilepsy in the mouse model of human Xq22.1 deletion syndrome

Chromosomal segmental deletion is a frequent cause of human diseases. A familial 1.1 Mb deletion of human chromosome Xq22.1 associates with epilepsy, cleft palate and developmental defects in heterozygous female patients. Here, we describe a mouse mutant with a targeted deletion of the syntenic segment of the mouse X chromosome that phenocopies the human syndrome. Male mice with a deletion of a 1.1 Mb Nxf2-Nxf3 X-chromosomal segment exhibit respiratory failure, neonatal lethality and cleft palate. In female mice, heterozygosity for the deletion manifests cleft palate, early postnatal lethality, postnatal growth delay and spontaneous seizures in surviving animals, apparently due to X-chromosome inactivation. Furthermore, loss of a 0.35 Mb subregion containing Armcx5, Gprasp1, Gprasp2 and Bhlhb9 is sufficient to cause the Xq22.1 syndrome phenotype. Our results support that the 1.1 Mb deletion of human Xq22.1 is the genetic cause of the associated syndrome.
Ingested probiotics reduce nasal colonization with pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and β-hemolytic streptococci)

Background: As a bacterial reservoir, the nose may harbor potentially pathogenic bacteria (PPB: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, β-hemolytic streptococci, and Haemophilus influenzae). In patients carrying PPB, antiseptic regimens could be crucial for infection control after major operations on or injuries of the head, nasal sinuses, or lungs. Such regimens may also be important for diabetic patients and persons receiving hemodialysis, in intensive care units, or with impaired immunity due to various other causes. Objective: We tested a possible effect of the ingestion of probiotics on the bacterial flora of the nose. Design: In an open, prospective trial, 209 volunteers were randomly assigned to consume either a probiotic, fermented milk drink [65 mL with Lactobacillus GG (ATCC 53103), Bifidobacterium sp B420, Lactobacillus acidophilus 145, and Streptococcus thermophilus; n = 108] or standard yogurt (180 g; n = 101) daily for 3 wk. Nasal microbial flora were analyzed on days 1, 21, and 28. The microbial examination was blinded to the source of the samples. Results: We found a significant reduction (19%; P < 0.001) in the occurrence of nasal PPB in the group who consumed the probiotic drink but not in the group who consumed yogurt. The effect was mainly on gram-positive bacteria, which decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate that regular intake of probiotics can reduce PPB in the upper respiratory tract. The results also indicate a linkage of the lymphoid tissue between the gut and the upper respiratory tract.
Design of microstrip T junction power divider circuits for enhanced performance

This paper details the development of novel power-divider T junction circuits which have unique prescribed transmission characteristics. Subsequent to a description of the design technique, the paper describes experimental results obtained on a series of fabricated circuit designs. These circuits were fabricated on microstrip material having a relative dielectric of 2.17, and substrate thickness of 20 mils. The measured results are shown to compare well with computer simulations over a frequency range from 50 MHz to 8 GHz.
Constructing Art/Instructing Meaning: The Postmodern Impulse in the Classroom—Five Easy Pieces

These five classroom exercises, all experiential in nature, place students inside the postmodern to learn and to feel the postmodern in their own lives and in the lives of their clients. Performed in both public and private arenas, inside the person and inside the group, these activities span human perspectives from premodern shadow puppets to postmodern art and meaning-making in the here and now, real, and not-so-real. Artists Duchamp, Picasso, and Ono lend their hands, but in the end, the students themselves pose as the artists and the art itself through a set of ludic encounters and classroom discussions.
Does a Salary Cap Really Work

Limiting executive compensation through a salary cap has emerged as one of the latest global governance initiatives. We investigate the effectiveness of a form of an executive salary cap system and find that only firms with a high level of effective external monitors set their salary cap significantly sensitive to firm performance (cap-performance sensitivity). The difference between the salary cap and actual pay (the gap) varies by the level of monitoring. Therefore, the existence of an efficient external monitoring system may be critical for a salary cap system to be successful. We also find evidence suggesting that incentive structures created by a salary cap may properly work only in the presence of an effective external monitoring system by improving better pay-performance sensitivity. Since it is almost impossible to determine an optimal level for a salary cap, we conclude that improving firm-level governance may be more important to thwart highly excessive compensation than legalizing the upper limit.