cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Grass Barriers for Reduced Concentrated Flow Induced Soil and Nutrient Loss

Vegetative filter strips (FS) perform poorly for reducing losses of sediment and nutrients in concentrated flow. Stiff-stemmed grass barriers (B-FS) above the FS may be a companion treatment to improve the FS performance. This study evaluated the effectiveness of warm-season switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) barriers planted above fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) FS in reducing runoff water, sediment, N, and P losses in concentrated flow from an Aeric Vertic Epiaqualf on a 5% slope. Simulated rainfall was applied on plots consisting of a 1.5-m-wide by 8-m-long pollutant source area with an artificially constructed channel to concentrate surface runoff. The source area was bounded downslope by either an 8-m long fescue FS or 0.7 m of active or dormant barrier above a 7.3-m-long fescue FS. The B-FS treatment also reduced sediment loss by 91% while the FS reduced sediment by only 72% (P < 0.01). The B-FS also reduced sediment loss by 90%, whereas FS reduced sediment only 60% when inflow was added to the plots. The B-FS trapped 4.9 times more organic N, 2.3 times more NH 4 -N, and 3.7 times more particulate P than FS at 0.7 m (P < 0.01). Sediment and nutrient trapping increased significantly with FS length. Switchgrass barriers above the FS dispersed and temporarily ponded concentrated runoff, enabling increased sediment deposition. Barriers may be a potential conservation strategy for rehabilitation of lands affected with concentrated flow where traditional practices are inadequate.
Fine Structure in the Velocity Distributions of Slowed Fission Fragments

Fine structure is observed in the velocity distribution of ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ fission fragments that have been slowed by aluminum or nickel, but none is observed for unslowed fragments. Identification of this velocity fine structure with the fine structure in the fission mass yield confirms the influence of the 82-neutron shell in the fission act, as distinguished from its influence in post-fission neutron boil-off. The production of velocity fine structure by aluminum or nickel slowing is shown, by means of the measured range-velocity relation of fragments in these metals, to be the result of isobaric velocity bunching. The measured range-velocity relation of fragments in gold indicates no velocity bunching and therefore is consistent with the absence of velocity fine structure in measured velocity distributions of ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ fragments slowed in gold or platinum.The absence of velocity fine structure in the velocity distribution of ${\mathrm{U}}^{233}$ and ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$ fragments slowed by aluminum is discussed.
Dissociation of renal nerve and excretory responses to volume expansion in prehypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive and Dahl salt-resistant rats.

Prehypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats on low sodium diet have impaired baroreceptor and cardiopulmonary receptor function as compared with Dahl salt-resistant control rats. We tested whether these abnormalities influenced the ability of conscious prehypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats to excrete a moderate intravenous isotonic saline volume load (0.9% NaCl, 3% body weight i.v.). During control, 30-minute volume expansion, and 2-hour recovery periods, arterial blood pressure and heart rate did not change. Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow remained stable throughout control and recovery. The amount of the volume load excreted as either water or sodium was the same for Dahl salt-sensitive and Dahl salt-resistant rats with either denervated or innervated kidneys. The time course of water and sodium excretion was similar in Dahl salt-sensitive and Dahl salt-resistant rats. Renal sympathetic nerve activity, however, showed different patterns. Although the initial decrease in renal sympathetic nerve activity during volume expansion was similar for both groups, Dahl salt-sensitive rats exhibited a prompt return of renal sympathetic nerve activity to control levels, whereas renal sympathetic nerve activity in Dahl salt-resistant rats remained decreased throughout the recovery period. The rapid recovery of renal sympathetic nerve activity to control levels after volume expansion in Dahl salt-sensitive rats supports the concept of impaired cardiopulmonary receptor function in these rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The photothermal stability of PbS quantum dot solids.

We combine optical absorption spectroscopy, ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, and variable-temperature measurements to study the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light and heat treatments on ethanedithiol-treated PbS quantum dot (QD) films as a function of ambient atmosphere, temperature, and QD size. Film aging occurs mainly by oxidation or ripening and sintering depending on QD size and the presence of oxygen. We can stop QD oxidation and greatly suppress ripening by infilling the films with amorphous Al2O3 using room-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD).
The role of microbiological criteria and risk assessment in HACCP

While HACCP systems focus on the identification and real-time monitoring of physical and chemical attributes at critical control points as a means of controlling foodborne pathogens, underlying these measurements are implicit or explicit microbiological criteria. An understanding of the development and proper use of microbiological criteria are critical to the development of effective hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) plans, particularly in relation to conducting hazard analyses and establishing critical limits that impart the necessary degree of stringency in process controls. The development of improved techniques in quantitative microbial risk assessment would greatly enhance linking the microbiological criteria underlying HACCP to public health objectives.
Effect of injection on the flow in the inlet region of a channel

Momentum and energy integrals are used to study the effect of injection on the flow in the inlet region of a channel, taking into account the loss of energy due to viscous dissipation in the boundary layer. Analytical expressions for boundary layer development and inlet region pressure distribution are presented. A comparison of the results of the present analysis is made with earlier studies.
Electric Field Breakdown of Polymer Based Nano-Composite at Room and Cryogenic Temperatures

Electrical breakdown field measurements on Polymethylmethylacrylate (PMMA) and a nano-composite of PMMA/Barium Titanate (BTA) by 10% wt are presented. The measurements were made using uniform field electrode configuration under high voltage DC. The electrodes were made of stainless steel, each having a Bruce profile, and diameter 25 mm. The measurements were made at room temperature (293 K) and liquid Nitrogen temperature (77 K). Using Weibull statistics it shows that both PMMA and the nano-composite have breakdown electrical field strengths much higher at 293 K than at 77 K. It has been shown that there was very marked improvement in the reliability of results for both compounds at 77 K over those at 293 K. The SEM micrographs have shown very distinct differences in the behavior of the nano-compound between 293 K and 77 K, PMMA also exhibit some clear differences.
Positron emission tomography detects evidence of viability in rest technetium-99m sestamibi defects.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative value of single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging at rest using technetium-99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (technetium-99m sestamibi) with positron emission tomography for detection of viable myocardium. Background. Recent studies comparing positron emission tomography and thallium-201 reinjection with rest technetium-99m sestamibi imaging have suggested that the latter technique underestimates myocardial viability. Methods. Twenty patients with a previous myocardial infarction underwent rest technetium-99m sestamibi imaging and positron emission tomography using fluorine (F)-18 deoxyglucose and nitrogen (N)-13 ammonia. In each patient, circumferential profile analysis was used to determine technetium-99m sestamibi, F-18 deoxyglucose and N-13 ammonia activity (expressed as percent of peak activity) in nine cardiac segments and in the perfusion defect defined by the area having technetium-99m sestamibi activity <60%. Technetium-99m sestamibi defects were graded as moderate (50% to 59% of peak activity) and severe (<50% of peak activity). Estimates of perfusion defect size were compared between technetium-99m sestamibi and N-13 ammonia. Results. Sixteen (53%) of 30 segments with moderate defects and 16 (47%) of 34 segments with severe defects had ≥60% F-18 deoxyglocose activity considered indicative of viability. Fluorine-18 deoxyglucose evidence of viability was still present in 50% of segments with technetium-99m sestamibi activity <40%. There was no significant difference in the mean (± SD) technetium-99m sestamibi activity in segments with viable (40 ± 7%) and nonviable segments (49 ± 7%, p = 0.84). Of the 18 patients who had adequate F-18 deoxyglucose studies, the area of the technetium-99m sestamibi defect was viable in 5 (28%). In 16 patients (80%), perfusion defect size determined by technetium-99m sestamibi exceeded that measured by N-13 ammonia. The difference in defect size between technetium-99m sestamibi and N-13 ammonia was significantly greater in patients with viable (21 ± 9%) versus nonviable segments (7 ± 9%, p = 0.007). Conclusions. Moderate and severe rest technetium-99m sestamibi defects frequently have metabolic evidence of viability. Technetium-99m sestamibi SPECT yields larger perfusion defects than does N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography when the same threshold values are used.
High temperature wetting: Insights from atomistic simulations

Results from large-scale atomic simulations of high temperature wetting and spreading have demonstrated that molecular dynamics modeling is well suited to elucidate fundamental details of reactive wetting. This report reviews recent literature and provides an example of how thermodynamic calculations complement wetting simulations to permit a careful examination of the role of reaction free energy in determining dissolutive wetting kinetics.
Language genre transitions in a secondary school physics classroom

The research reported in this paper addressed the nature of transitions between language genres in school physics. In this qualitative study, quasi-ethnographic methods were employed to understand the culture of one secondary school physics classroom in the USA. One teacher and his physics students were the participants. The teacher was interviewed and class sessions were observed over the course of several months. The main outcome of the study was the identification of physical (non-verbal) and metaphorical movements between language genres. A framework has been developed and presented to represent the paths of transitions between language genres. The findings imply that teachers need to understand the transitions they use as a first step towards helping their students interpret the language genres used in the classroom.
Agricultural Education: Gender Identity and Knowledge Exchange.

Abstract Women farmers are underserved in agricultural education and technical assistance. Long held social constructions of farming women as ‘farmwives’ and in some cases ‘the bookkeepers’ rather than farmers or decision-makers influence the direction of most educational programming delivered through extension programs in land-grant universities in the United States. Consequently, many women farmers generally view these spaces as hostile, rather than helpful environments. This paper uses the agricultural training framework developed by Liepins and Schick (1998) to analyze our research on developing educational programming for women farmers. We conducted five focus groups with members of the Pennsylvania Women's Agricultural Network (PA-WAgN) to better understand women farmers’ needs for education. Women farmers reported the kinds of knowledge and information they want, in what kinds of contexts, and through what means of communication. We adapt and extend the original theoretical framework developed by Liepins and Schick to incorporate the seriality of women's identities, their discourses of embodiment and the agency granted to them through social networks. Through a presentation of the results of these focus groups, we discuss both the relevance of gender to agricultural education and the importance of the network model in providing education to women farmers.
Restoration of normal function in genetically defective myotubes by spontaneous fusion with fibroblasts.

MUSCULAR dysgenesis in mice is a genetic disease of skeletal muscle caused by the recessive mutation mdg (ref. 1). Muscle fibres in affected mice are paralysed because of the failure of excitation–contraction coupling2,3. Unlike normal myotubes in primary culture, dysgenic myotubes do not contract, either spontaneously or in response to electrical stimulation. The deficiency results from mutation of the gene for the skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptor4, an essential sarcolemmal component both of excitation–contraction coupling and of the slow calcium-ion channel4,5. It has recently been shown6 that the addition of fibroblasts from normal (but not dysgenic) mice to cultures of dysgenic myotubes can restore spontaneous contractions in a small fraction of these myotubes, but the mechanism for this 'rescue' was not determined. In principle7, if fibroblast nuclei were able to incorporate into myotubes, such nuclei could then supply the missing muscle-specific gene product. We have now investigated this possibility using nuclear, cytoplasmic and plasmalemmal markers. We report that the rescue to contractile ability in genetically paralysed dysgenic muscle is mediated by the previously unrecognized ability of fibroblasts to fuse spontaneously with developing myotubes.
The architecture of the Burroughs B5000: 20 years later and still ahead of the times?

The Burroughs B5000 was introduced over twenty years ago. The architectural features it introduced, and refined when it was upgraded to the B5500 and B6500, are only now appearing in new computer designs. This paper briefly describes some of these features, as they relate to high-level language and operating system support, and as interesting features in their own right. References are given for more detailed information.
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Arab Americans Living in Metropolitan Washington, DC

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profiles of Arab Americans may differ from those of the majority ethnic groups in the United States on which clinical practice guidelines are based. Reasons for these differences include genetic homogeneity and both cultural and lifestyle factors that influence CVD risk. Therefore, appropriate therapeutic targets for effective CVD prevention in Arab Americans need to be designed. However, research on Arab American health is sparse. For the cross-sectional survey described in this article, a convenience sample of Arab Americans living in Washington, DC; Virginia; and Maryland was recruited. Arab Americans in our sample had a higher prevalence of high cholesterol and lower prevalence of diabetes and hypertension than the general population of the United States. High levels of smoking and a lack of physical activity were also reported. Most participants (71%) reported a score of 15 and below on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, indicating no signs of clinical depression. Predictors of depression were compared in those born inside and outside the United States. With the results from this survey, we have designed a cross-sectional study to begin in early 2010 to determine the prevalence of CVD risk factors in Arab Americans which can be compared with the overall population of the United States.
Organoselenium Chemistry. Preparation of Allyl and Homoallyl Amines by Aminomethylation of Phenylseleno‐Substituted Allyl Tin Reagents

Metalation of methallyl phenyl selenide, allyl phenyl selenide, and methallyl phenyl sulfide followed by tri-n-butylstannylation gave exclusively the γ-stannylated sulfide or selenide (e.g., 1-phenylseleno-2-methyl-3-tri-n-butylstannyl-1-propene (5)). Compound 5 reacts with a series of immonium electrophiles to give products of aminomethylation α- to selenium. Electrophiles have included N-(bromomethyl)phthalimide/ZnBr2, Eschenmoser salt (dimethylmethyleneammonium iodide), and Mannich reagents generated in situ from diethylamine, piperidine, isopropyl sarcosinate and benzylmethylamine. The selenide from the last of these amines (N, 3-dimethyl-N-benzyl-2-phenylseleno-3-butenamine, 10) has been subjected to further transformations as follows: (1) treatment of 10 with trimethylstannyllithium results in replacement of phenylseleno by stannyl; this allyltin (11) can then again be aminomethylated giving compound 12 or 13; (2) oxidation of 10 gives amino alcohol 14 by [2, 3] sigmatropic rearrangement of the allyl selenoxide; (3) photolysis of 10 results in 1,3-rearrangement of the phenylseleno group; oxidative rearrangement of this allyl selenide gives amino alcohol 16. The phthalimidomethylation product (6) is converted to a precursor for the side chain of the cytokinin zeatin by oxidation and [2, 3] sigmatropic rearrangement.
Water-Cooled Gas Turbine Forged Bucket Development

This paper describes the materials and process development required to fabricate the third-stage bucket as part of the HTTT Phase II Program funded by the Department of Energy. The results of this materials engineering and process development work, including alloy selection, thermal mechanical processing, and deep hole drilling using Shaped Tube Electrolytic Machining (STEM), are presented. The mechanical properties of buckets fabricated as part of this program are discussed and compared to the overall third-stage bucket component design goals.Copyright © 1981 by ASME
Light-Driven Changes in Energy Metabolism Directly Entrain the Cyanobacterial Circadian Oscillator

Circadian clocks are self-sustained biological oscillators that can be entrained by environmental cues. Although this phenomenon has been studied in many organisms, the molecular mechanisms of entrainment remain unclear. Three cyanobacterial proteins and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) are sufficient to generate oscillations in phosphorylation in vitro. We show that changes in illumination that induce a phase shift in cultured cyanobacteria also cause changes in the ratio of ATP to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). When these nucleotide changes are simulated in the in vitro oscillator, they cause phase shifts similar to those observed in vivo. Physiological concentrations of ADP inhibit kinase activity in the oscillator, and a mathematical model constrained by data shows that this effect is sufficient to quantitatively explain entrainment of the cyanobacterial circadian clock.
MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF IN-SITU NETWORK COMPOSITE FIBRES OF PBZT WITH NYLON

A method for preparing composite fibres by infiltrating nylon into swollen poly(p-phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) fibre is described. PBZT fibre forms a microfibrillar network structure during the coagulation process.In-situ network composite (IC) fibres may be prepared by exchanging the coagulant with a solution containing the desired matrix material. These new composite fibres exhibit nearly identical mechanical properties and similar thermomechanical properties to those of so-called molecular composite (MC) fibres prepared from isotropic solutions of PBZT and nylon in methane sulphonic acid (MSA), The mechanical properties of these fibres were determined before and after heat treatment under tension. The structure of pure PBZT and its composite fibres (ICs' and MCs') were characterized using nitrogen adsorption (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) experiments), small-angle X-ray scattering, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively). The structure of both composite fibres was found to be a microfibrillar network of PBZT in a matrix of amorphous nylon. The average diameters of the PBZT microfibrils were in the range of 10 to 20 nm forin-situ network composites and approximately 4 nm for molecular composites.
Reprint of: Parabolized stability equation models of large-scale jet mixing noise☆

Abstract We report on the development of parabolized stability equation models to predict the evolution of low frequencies, large-scale wavepacket structures in turbulent jets and their radiated sound. We consider computations and data corresponding to high subsonic and supersonic jets from circular nozzles. Previous methods are extended to consider nonlinear interactions amongst the waves and use a Kirchhoff-surface type approach to project the near-field wavepacket amplitudes to the far-field. Linear PSE, whose initial conditions are chosen to provide an overall amplitude reference, show excellent agreement for the wavepacket amplitudes and phases with microphone array data just outside the jet shear layers, especially when the microphone data are processed to filter out contributions from uncorrelated fluctuations. Far-field sound predictions based on the linear PSE are also in reasonable agreement with far-field data. In order to investigate nonlinearity, we use an LES database to evaluate initial conditions for the PSE modes, and then compare their later evolution along the jet. Preliminary cases show some sensitivity to the initial amplitudes and their phases, and that nonlinear effects may be important in predicting the far-field sound based on the initial (near-nozzle) spectrum of disturbances.
Computer Aided Design Training Methods In Interior Design Professional Practice

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to investigate computer aided design (CAD) training methods chosen by interior design professionals and to gather general information on CAD use by interior designers. RESEARCH DESIGN: A questionnaire was sent to 500 randomly selected members of the Institute of Business Designers (IBD) in December of 1993. The primary focus of the questionnaire was on CAD training methods used by interior design professionals, with questions relating to the hiring of new employees, training of existing employees, and the educational background of employees. In addition, the questionnaire asked general questions, including the number of employees, the type of work done by the firm, the years of experience using CAD, the computer software used, and the methods of updating the CAD system. ANALYSIS: Preferences in CAD training methods and usage were tabulated and are reported using frequency percentages. KEY FINDINGS: Of the 259 valid respondents, 71% used CAD for design and drafting. The most common training methods included: training by software vendors, assistance from previously trained employees of the firm, and self-directed teaching using a manual or tutorials. Vendors played a very important role in the training of the first CAD user as well as those trained at a later date. In addition, 40% of firms using CAD for the first time hired a designer with existing CAD skills. Fifty-two percent of firms with previously trained CAD professionals used these people to train other members of the firm. CONCLUSION: This research can be helpful to professionals searching for ways to approach the training of designers on CAD. In addition, educators and students can benefit by becoming more aware of the use of CAD and CAD training methods in the professional world.
A method for the simultaneous determination of H3 and S35 in samples with variable quenching

Abstract A method is presented for the simultaneous determination of H 3 and S 35 with a window ratio quench correction. Three channels are used. One window counts H 3 and S 35 . The other two windows count S 35 only. The ratio of counts in the S 35 windows is used to calculate the degree of quenching. H 3 and S 35 counting rates are then corrected to zero quenching. The standard deviation was less than ±3 per cent of the calculated mean counting rate for each isotope. Methanolic hyamine hydroxide was used as the quenching agent.
Potentiation of Antibacterial Activity of the MB-1 Siderophore-Monobactam Conjugate Using an Efflux Pump Inhibitor

Preliminary enthusiasm over the encouraging spectrum and in vitro activities of siderophore conjugates, such as MB-1, was recently tempered by unexpected variability in in vivo efficacy. The need for these conjugates to compete for iron with endogenously produced siderophores has exposed a significant liability for this novel antibacterial strategy. Here, we have exploited dependence on efflux for siderophore secretion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and provide evidence that efflux inhibition may circumvent this in vivo-relevant resistance liability.
Modeling nonlinear errors in surface electromyography due to baseline noise: A new methodology

The surface electromyographic (EMG) signal is often contaminated by some degree of baseline noise. It is customary for scientists to subtract baseline noise from the measured EMG signal prior to further analyses based on the assumption that baseline noise adds linearly to the observed EMG signal. The stochastic nature of both the baseline and EMG signal, however, may invalidate this assumption. Alternately, "true" EMG signals may be either minimally or nonlinearly affected by baseline noise. This information is particularly relevant at low contraction intensities when signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) may be lowest. Thus, the purpose of this simulation study was to investigate the influence of varying levels of baseline noise (approximately 2-40% maximum EMG amplitude) on mean EMG burst amplitude and to assess the best means to account for signal noise. The simulations indicated baseline noise had minimal effects on mean EMG activity for maximum contractions, but increased nonlinearly with increasing noise levels and decreasing signal amplitudes. Thus, the simple baseline noise subtraction resulted in substantial error when estimating mean activity during low intensity EMG bursts. Conversely, correcting EMG signal as a nonlinear function of both baseline and measured signal amplitude provided highly accurate estimates of EMG amplitude. This novel nonlinear error modeling approach has potential implications for EMG signal processing, particularly when assessing co-activation of antagonist muscles or small amplitude contractions where the SNR can be low.
Severity of Mitral Regurgitation Predicts Risk of Death or Cardiac Transplantation in Children With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Clinical outcomes among children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) are diverse, which makes the decision as to when a patient should be listed for a cardiac transplantation challenging. This study aimed to determine echocardiographic and clinical variables that can help clinicians identify those at highest risk for death or cardiac transplantation. The study was a single-center, retrospective chart review of children with IDC. Patients younger than 18 years with a diagnosis of IDC, as defined by a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) z-score higher than 2, and fractional shortening of less than 28 % on the initial echocardiogram, were included in the study. Echocardiographic parameters including mitral regurgitation (MR) grade and certain clinical parameters at the time of presentation were assessed. A follow-up echocardiogram was similarly studied. The study included 49 children with IDC. Those who died or underwent cardiac transplantation were grouped as “nonsurvivors” (n = 26). The remaining children who either completely recovered or experienced chronic dilated cardiomyopathy were grouped as “survivors” (n = 23). The median age overall was 1.25 years (range 0.1–17 years). The follow-up echocardiograms of the survivors showed significant improvement in left ventricle size, systolic function, left atrial volume, and MR grade, whereas these parameters did not change in the nonsurvivor group. The use of inotropic medications at initial presentation was an independent predictor of death or cardiac transplantation (p < 0.05). The presence of moderate to severe MR at diagnosis also was predictive of a worse outcome.
Threshold Field Studies of Various Positive Corona Phenomena

Use of the oscillograph to study the discharge between confocal paraboloid electrodes in air at atmospheric pressure has given the threshold field strength at which the various positive corona phenomena begin. Some effects of humidity and of accumulated oxides in the gap are described. Current-potential curves are given which show the more prominent effects of humidity and accumulated oxides on the discharge after corona onset. From the field data it is possible to verify Meek's theory attending the formation of pre-onset streamers.
On the rate constraint of transmitting multiple priority classes with QoS

The rate constraint of transmitting multiple priority classes over a time-varying service-rate channel is studied in this work. This constraint specifies the maximum data rate that can be transmitted reliably with QoS (quality of service) guarantee. In our framework, the time-varying service channel is modeled by an N-state discrete Markov process, where each Markov state is associated with a channel service rate, and the absolute priority scheduling is used to transport packets of different classes. The transmission rate constraint is derived based on effective bandwidth and capacity. To be more specific, given channel parameters and the maximum buffer size for each priority class, statistical QoS guarantees in terms of packet loss probabilities can be determined and translated to the transmission rate constraint. The derived result is verified by simulation in a time-varying wireless environment.
Ultralow Power Circuit Design With Subthreshold/Near-Threshold 3-D IC Technologies

The requirement of ultralow power and energy efficient systems is becoming more and more important with the increase in the use of miniaturized portable devices and unsupervised remote sensor systems. 3-D integration is an emerging technology that helps in reducing footprint as well as power. In this paper, we study in detail the combined benefits of 3-D ICs and low-voltage supply designs to obtain maximum energy efficiency. We implement different types of circuits in conventional 2-D and through-silicon-via-based 3-D designs at different supply voltages varying from nominal to subthreshold voltages. The impact of 3-D integration on these different types of circuits is analyzed. Our study is based on power and energy comparison of full GDSII layouts. Our study confirms that subthreshold/near-threshold circuits indeed offer a few orders of magnitude power versus performance tradeoff with further improvement due to 3-D implementation. In addition, 3-D designs reduce the footprint area up to 78% and wirelength up to 33% compared with the 2-D counterpart for individual design benchmarks. Our studies also show that thermal and IR drop issues are negligible in subthreshold 3-D implementation due to its extreme low-power operation. Finally, we demonstrate the low-power and high-memory bandwidth advantages of many-core 3-D subthreshold circuits.
Pharmacogenomic progress in individualized dosing of key drugs for cancer patients

Determining the correct dosage for the majority of chemotherapeutic agents presents a challenge for clinicians because there is a fine balance between doses that cause significant drug toxicity and loss of efficacy. This Review discusses the current limitations of body surface area-based dosing, provides examples of successful pharmacogenomics investigations that have used drug-metabolizing enzymes to decrease drug toxicity or improve efficacy, and highlights promising advances in pharmacogenomic-directed pharmacotherapy. Determining the correct dosage for the majority of traditional chemotherapeutic agents presents a challenge because most drugs have a narrow therapeutic index, which results in a fine balance between doses that cause significant drug toxicity and loss of efficacy. Dosing calculations for most agents use the patient's body surface area, a method that correlates poorly with drug pharmacokinetics. Genetic differences in drug-metabolizing enzymes are being evaluated in an effort to explain the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability seen with many chemotherapeutic agents. Elucidation of the underlying reasons for this variability will enable individualization of therapy to minimize toxicity and maximize efficacy, and thus improve control over the narrow therapeutic index of these agents. Such investigations have led to Clinical Pharmacology FDA Subcommittee recommendations for changes to drug package instructions. This Review discusses the current limitations of body-surface-area-based dosing, examples of successful pharmacogenomic investigations that have used drug-metabolizing enzymes to decrease drug toxicity and/or improve efficacy, and the future promises of pharmacogenomic-directed pharmacotherapy.
Microfluidics enables multiplex evaluation of the same cells for further studies.

Objective The continuous discovery of biomarkers and their evolving use for the diagnosis and guidance of therapy for patients with cancer has increased awareness of the need to triage biospecimens properly. On occasion, cytology samples are the only type of biospecimen available for analysis. Often, the current approach for these latter specimens is cytopathology-centric, with cells limited to examination by bright field microscopy. When specimens are paucicellular, there is often insufficient material for ancillary testing. Therefore, a need exists to develop an alternative approach that allows for the multiplexed analysis of cells when they are limited in number. In recent previous publications, we demonstrated that clinically derived cells from tissue are suitable for evaluation in a microfluidic device. In our current endeavour, we seek to expand upon those findings and determine if those same cells can be recovered for further analysis. Methods A microfluidic channel was designed, fabricated and tested using cytology specimens generated from tissue specimens. The cytological features of the cells tested were examined prior to entering the channel; they were then compared to similar cells while in the channel, and upon recovery from the channel. Recovery of DNA and proteins were also tested. Results The morphology of the tested cells was not compromised in either the channel or upon recovery. More importantly, the integrity of the cells remained intact, with the recovery of proteins and high molecular weight DNA possible. Conclusions We developed and tested an alternative approach to the processing of cytopathology specimens that enables multiplexed evaluation. Using microfluidics, cytological examination of biopecimens can be performed, but in contrast to existing approaches, the same cells examined can be recovered for downstream analysis.
Spread of bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BHV-5) in the rabbit brain after intranasal inoculation.

Following intranasal inoculation of wild-type BHV-5 in rabbits, we studied the sequential transneuronal passage of the virus in the CNS by immunocytochemistry, histopathology, and virus isolation. At 4 and 6 days postinfection (d.p.i.), rabbits had no or mild neurological signs, and virus was isolated only from the olfactory bulbs. At 8 and 9 d.p.i., infected rabbits had severe neurological signs, and virus could be isolated from multiple regions of the brain segments. In these rabbits, high titers of virus were consistently present in the anterior and posterior cortices, including frontal, piriform/entorhinal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, the hippocampus and the amygdala. Virus was isolated occasionally from the midbrain/diencephalon and pons/medulla. Virus was not isolated from the cerebellum and trigeminal ganglion of rabbits examined from 2–12 d.p.i. Immunocytochemistry revealed virus-specific antigens at 4 d.p.i. within the glomerular layer, external plexiform layer, and mitral cell la...
Coaggregation amongst aquatic biofilm bacteria.

C.M. BUSWELL, Y.M. HERLIHY, P.D. MARSH, C.W. KEEVIL AND S.A. LEACH. 1997. Aquatic autochthonous flora isolated directly from a water biofilm model was tested for its capacity to take part in coaggregation. Two assay methods were compared and a visual semiquantitative method was found to be the most consistent and easy to use. All isolates demonstrated coaggregation with at least one other isolate to some extent, giving rise to visible flocs. One isolate, identified as Micrococcus luteus, was found to coaggregate with all of the other isolates to different degrees, highlighting a possible role as a bridging organism in the biofilm consortium. The addition of certain simple sugars reversed coaggregation between particular isolates suggesting that lectin-like adhesins were operating between these members of the aquatic autochthonous flora by a mechanism similar to that reported to occur between dental plaque bacteria. The time taken for coaggregation to begin varied considerably between different pairs of isolates (1-16 h), suggesting that this may play a role in determining the successional order of isolates during biofilm development.
CS-specific gamma, theta, and alpha EEG activity detected in stimulus generalization following induction of behavioral memory by stimulation of the nucleus basalis

Tone paired with stimulation of the nucleus basalis (NB) induces behavioral memory that is specific to the frequency of the conditioned stimulus (CS), assessed by cardiac and respiration behavior during post-training stimulus generalization testing. This paper focuses on CS-specific spectral and temporal features of conditioned EEG activation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, chronically implanted with a stimulating electrode in the NB and a recording electrode in the ipsilateral auditory cortex, received either tone (6kHz, 70dB, 2s) paired with co-terminating stimulation of the nucleus basalis (0.2s, 100Hz, 80-105 microA, ITI approximately 45s) or unpaired presentation of the stimuli (approximately 200 trials/day for approximately 14 days). CS-specificity was tested 24h post-training by presenting test tones to obtain generalization gradients for the EEG, heart rate, and respiration. Behavioral memory was evident in cardiac and respiratory responses that were maximal to the CS frequency of 6kHz. FFT analyses of tone-elicited changes of power in the delta, theta, alpha, beta1, beta2, and gamma bands in the paired group revealed that conditioned EEG activation (shift from lower to higher frequencies) was differentially spectrally and temporally specific: theta, and alpha to a lesser extent, decreased selectively to 6kHz during and for several seconds following tone presentation while gamma power increased transiently during and after 6kHz. Delta exhibited no CS-specificity and the beta bands showed transient specificity only after several seconds. The unpaired group exhibited neither CS-specific behavioral nor EEG effects. Thus, stimulus generalization tests reveal that conditioned EEG activation is not unitary but rather reflects CS-specificity, with band-selective markers for specific, associative neural processes in learning and memory.
SomeCast. A paradigm for real-time adaptive reliable multicast

SomeCast is a novel paradigm for the reliable multicast of real time data to a large set of receivers. SomeCast is receiver-initiated and thus scalable in the number of receivers, the diverse characteristics of paths between senders and receivers, and the dynamic conditions of such paths. SomeCast enables receivers to dynamically adjust the rate at which they receive multicast information to enable the satisfaction of their QoS constraints. This is done by enabling a receiver to join SOME number of concurrent multiCAST sessions, whereby each session delivers a portion of an encoding of the real time data. By adjusting the number of such sessions dynamically, client-specific QoS constraints are met independently. The SomeCast paradigm can be thought of as a generalization of the AnyCast and ManyCast paradigms, which have been proposed in the literature to address issues of scalability of UniCast and MultiCast environments, respectively. The authors overview the SomeCast paradigm, describe an instance of a SomeCast protocol, and present simulation results that quantify the significant advantages gained from adopting such a protocol.
First report of Cladosporium leaf spot of spinach caused by Cladosporium variabile in North Carolina.

Cladosporium leaf spot of spinach, caused by Cladosporium variabile, can result in significant economic losses in the United States (2). In March 2014, symptoms consistent with Cladosporium leaf spot (4) appeared on the spinach cultivar Tyee in a greenhouse located in Rowan County, NC. Of 1,080 spinach plants, 90 to 100% were infected. Symptoms consisted of small (1 to 3 mm in diameter), circular, tan lesions each outlined with a dark margin on the adaxial surface of the leaf. On severely infected foliage, lesions coalesced to produce relatively large necrotic regions. Profuse fungal sporulation was observed on the lesion surface with a dissecting microscope at 40× magnification. Using a dissecting microscope, conidia were collected with a sterile needle and transferred to petri plates containing potato dextrose agar. Plates were then incubated at 23 ± 2°C under continuous fluorescent light, and fungal growth was apparent after 24 h. Isolations from leaves of six infected plants produced slow-growing, dark green to brown fungal colonies that reached only 31 mm in diameter after 14 days, which is characteristic of C. variabile (4). Colonies contained dense masses of dematiaceous, septate, unbranched conidiophores with conidial chains, each containing up to five conidia. Conidia were ovate to elongate, with some being septate. The length of individual conidia ranged from 10 to 19 μm. Conidial septa were distinctly dark when observed at 100× magnification, which is a defining feature of C. variabile vs. the conidia of C. macrocarpum (4). The surface of the conidia appeared verrucose at 100× magnification, and conidia were each distinctly darkened toward the base. A single isolate obtained through single-spore transfer was used for DNA extraction, and the histone 3 (H3) gene sequence was amplified using the primers CYLH3F and CYLH3R (1). Sequence analysis of the amplified product using BLAST analysis indicated that the H3 sequences had 100% identity to that of a C. variabile isolate (GenBank Accession No. EF679710.1), and 99% identity to a C. macrocarpum isolate (EF679687.1). The H3 sequence from a representative isolate was deposited in GenBank (KJ769146). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Cladosporium leaf spot on spinach in North Carolina based on morphological evaluation and H3 sequencing results. C. variabile is a seedborne pathogen, so it is possible inoculum was introduced into the greenhouses in North Carolina on infected seed (3). Seeds can be treated with hot water or chlorine to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks caused by infected seed (2). Furthermore, Cladosporium leaf spot may be controlled with the use of fungicides (3). References: (1) P. Crous et al. Stud. Mycol. 50:415, 2004. (2) L. J. du Toit and P. Hernandez-Perez. Plant Dis. 89:1305, 2005. (3) L. J. du Toit et al. Fung. Nemat. Tests 59:V115, 2004. (4) Schubert et al. Stud. Mycol. 58:105, 2007.
Mediator kinase module and human tumorigenesis

Mediator is a conserved multi-subunit signal processor through which regulatory informatiosn conveyed by gene-specific transcription factors is transduced to RNA Polymerase II (Pol II). In humans, MED13, MED12, CDK8 and Cyclin C (CycC) comprise a four-subunit "kinase" module that exists in variable association with a 26-subunit Mediator core. Genetic and biochemical studies have established the Mediator kinase module as a major ingress of developmental and oncogenic signaling through Mediator, and much of its function in signal-dependent gene regulation derives from its resident CDK8 kinase activity. For example, CDK8-targeted substrate phosphorylation impacts transcription factor half-life, Pol II activity and chromatin chemistry and functional status. Recent structural and biochemical studies have revealed a precise network of physical and functional subunit interactions required for proper kinase module activity. Accordingly, pathologic change in this activity through altered expression or mutation of constituent kinase module subunits can have profound consequences for altered signaling and tumor formation. Herein, we review the structural organization, biological function and oncogenic potential of the Mediator kinase module. We focus principally on tumor-associated alterations in kinase module subunits for which mechanistic relationships as opposed to strictly correlative associations are established. These considerations point to an emerging picture of the Mediator kinase module as an oncogenic unit, one in which pathogenic activation/deactivation through component change drives tumor formation through perturbation of signal-dependent gene regulation. It follows that therapeutic strategies to combat CDK8-driven tumors will involve targeted modulation of CDK8 activity or pharmacologic manipulation of dysregulated CDK8-dependent signaling pathways.
Part I: The application of the h-index to groups of individuals and departments in academic neurosurgery.

Objective The h -index was introduced as a means of quantifying the contribution a researcher makes to the scientific literature. We evaluated the h -index for academic neurosurgeons to assess the various methods of calculation and to determine whether the h -index can be used to differentiate groups of individuals by various classifications. Methods The h -index was calculated for all neurosurgeons from 10 institutions ranked highly by 2012 U.S. News & World Report plus the authors' institution via Scopus. The h -index also was calculated manually to evaluate its accuracy. The average h -index was calculated for groups on the basis of sex, academic rank, years in practice, institution, and subspecialty. Cumulative and mean h -indices were calculated for each department. Results The median h -index for the 188 neurosurgeons was 16 (mean, 19.71; range, 0–61). There was a positive association between the h -index, academic rank, and years posttraining. There was a significant difference between the "manually calculated" and automated h-indices, particularly for more senior physicians. The difference in h -index between men and women was not statistically significant. Among subspecialties, vascular surgeons had the greatest average h -index and general neurosurgeons had the lowest. There were significant shifts in departmental rankings when the cumulative or mean departmental indices were compared with the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Conclusion Application of the h -index as a bibliometric in neurosurgery can distinguish academic productivity on the basis of academic rank, years posttraining, and neurosurgical subspecialties. The application of the h -index to compare departments is problematic and, at this time, not reliable.
Redox control of gene expression involving iron-sulfur proteins. Change of oxidation-state or assembly/disassembly of Fe-S clusters?

Abstract Attention is drawn to a mechanism of redox control of gene expression involving FeS proteins which depends on the disassembly and reassembly of FeS clusters rather than a change in oxidation state. Iron Regulatory Protein (IRP)/aconitase and FNR are discussed as examples for such a mechanism.
Q-superlinear convergence of the iterates in primal-dual interior-point methods

Sufficient conditions are given for the Q-superlinear convergence of the iterates produced by primal-dual interior-point methods for linear complementarity problems. It is shown that those conditions are satisfied by several well known interior-point methods. In particular it is shown that the iteration sequences produced by the simplified predictor–corrector method of Gonzaga and Tapia, the simplified largest step method of Gonzaga and Bonnans, the LPF+ algorithm of Wright, the higher order methods of Wright and Zhang, Potra and Sheng, and Stoer, Wechs and Mizuno are Q-superlinearly convergent.