cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Translational or post-translational processes affect differentially the accumulation of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase proteins and enzyme activities in embryos and seedlings of Brassica napus.

Abstract We have analyzed the accumulation of the glyoxylate cycle enzymes isocitrate lyase and malate synthase in embryos and seedlings of Brassica napus L. The two enzyme activities and proteins begin to accumulate during late embryogeny, reach maximal levels in seedlings, and are not detected in young leaves of mature plants. We showed previously that mRNAs encoding the two enzymes exhibit similar qualitative patterns of accumulation during development and that the two mRNAs accumulate to different levels in both embryos and seedlings (L. Comai et al. , 1989, Plant Cell 1, 293–300). In this report, we show that the relative accumulation of the proteins and activities do not correspond to these mRNA levels. In embryos and seedlings, the specific activities of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase are approximately constant. By contrast, the ratio of malate synthase protein to mRNA is 14-fold higher than that of isocitrate lyase. Differences in the translational efficiencies of the two mRNAs in vitro do not appear to account for the discrepancy between mRNA and protein levels. Our results suggest that translational and/ or post-translational processes affect differentially the accumulation of the proteins.
Global marine gravity field map

A color relief image of the marine gravity field from SEASAT altimeter measurements of the topography of the ocean surface is now available through the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This image, prepared by William F. Haxby (Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, N.Y.), has been published by NGDC for the Office of Naval Research, which was the principal sponsor of the effort leading to the development of the image. The U.S. Geological Survey, National Mapping Division, printed the map.
Hydrothermal Syntheses of Colloidal Carbon Spheres from Cyclodextrins

Colloidal carbon spheres have been prepared from aqueous α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrin (CD) solutions in closed systems under hydrothermal conditions at 160 °C. Both liquid and solid-state 13C NMR spectra taken for samples at different reaction times have been used to monitor the dehydration and carbonization pathways. CD slowly hydrolyzes to glucose and forms 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) followed by carbonization into colloidal carbon spheres. The isolated carbon spheres are 70−150 nm in diameter, exhibit a core−shell structure, and are comprised of a condensed core (C═C) peppered with resident chemical functionalities including carboxylate and hydroxyl groups. Evidence from 13C solid-state NMR and FT-IR spectra reveal that the evolving carbon spheres show a gradual increase in the amount of aromatic carbon as a function of reaction time and that the carbon spheres generated from γ-CD contain significantly higher aromatic carbon than those derived from α- and β-CD.
The Association of Arterial Shear and Flow-mediated Dilation in Diabetes

While adjusting flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of vascular function, for shear rate may be important when evaluating endothelial-dependent vasodilation, the relationship of FMD with shear rate in study populations with cardiovascular risk factors is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of four measures of shear rate (peak shear rate (SRpeak) and shear rate area under the curve through 30 seconds (SRAUC 0–30), 60 seconds (SRAUC 0–60), and time to peak dilation (SRAUC 0–ttp)) with FMD in 50 study subjects with type 2 diabetes and mild hypertension undergoing baseline FMD testing for an exercise intervention trial. Associations among measures of shear rate and FMD were evaluated using Pearson’s correlations and R2. The four measures of shear rate were highly correlated within subjects, with Pearson’s correlations ranging from 0.783 (p < 0.001) to 0.972 (p < 0.001). FMD was associated with each measure of shear rate, having a correlation of 0.576 (p < 0.001) with SRAUC 0–30, 0.529 (p < 0....
Minimal changes in rhizobacterial population structure following root colonization by wild type and transgenic biocontrol strains

Pseudomonas fluorescens strains 2-79, Q8r1-96, and a recombinant strain, Z30-97, produce the antibiotics phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), or both antibiotics, respectively. Rhizosphere colonization by these strains and subsequent alterations of bacterial community structure were assayed over multiple growth cycles of wheat under controlled conditions. While added to soil at just log 4 cells per gram prior to planting, all four strains subsequently colonized germinating wheat roots to levels in excess of log 6.5 cells per g (f.w.). Strain-specific differences in rhizosphere competence were observed, but these were not generally related to the chromosomal insertion of the phz genes. Multiple differences in bacterial community structure were detected among treatments in each cycle; however, the large majority of changes were not consistently related to the abundance of inoculant strains in the rhizosphere nor the genetic make-up of the inoculant strains. Nonetheless, T-RFLP profiles of amplified 16S eubacterial sequences indicated that, when compared to the untreated samples, inoculation with Z30-97 resulted in several shifts in rhizosphere bacterial community structure previously associated with decreased levels of root disease. 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Validation of a noninvasive neonatal optical cerebral oximeter in veno-venous ECMO patients with a cephalad catheter.

Cerebral Oximetry is an optical technique that allows for noninvasive and continuous monitoring of brain oxygenation by determining tissue oxygen saturation (SctO2). In conjunction with pulse oximetry, cerebral oximetry offers a promising method to estimate cerebral venous oxygen saturation (SvO2). The aim of this study was to validate the cerebral oximetry measurements with the cerebral oxygen saturation measured from blood drawn in neonates on veno-venous ECMO with existing cephalad catheter with a prototype neonatal cerebral oximeter developed by CAS Medical Systems (Branford, CT, USA). After obtaining informed consent, neonates undergoing VV-ECMO with cephalad catheterization were monitored by the CAS cerebral oximeter. Cephalad blood samples were periodically obtained to validate the monitor's accuracy. Seventeen neonates were studied with 1718 h of cerebral oximetry data collected. Compared to the reference values, the bias±precision for cerebral oximetry SctO2 was 0.4±5.1% and derived SvO2 was 0.6±7.3% We recommend the use of this noninvasive method as an alternative to blood draws for cerebral venous saturation measurements in neonates requiring extracorporeal life support.
Regulation of the Vitellogenin Receptor during Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis

In many insects, development of the oocyte arrests temporarily just before vitellogenesis, the period when vitellogenins (yolk proteins) accumulate in the oocyte. Following hormonal and environmental cues, development of the oocyte resumes, and endocytosis of vitellogenins begins. An essential component of yolk uptake is the vitellogenin receptor. In this report, we describe the ovarian expression pattern and subcellular localization of the mRNA and protein encoded by the Drosophila melanogaster vitellogenin receptor gene yolkless (yl). yl RNA and protein are both expressed very early during the development of the oocyte, long before vitellogenesis begins. RNA in situ hybridization and lacZ reporter analyses show that yl RNA is synthesized by the germ line nurse cells and then transported to the oocyte. Yl protein is evenly distributed throughout the oocyte during the previtellogenic stages of oogenesis, demonstrating that the failure to take up yolk in these early stage oocyte is not due to the absence of the receptor. The transition to the vitellogenic stages is marked by the accumulation of yolk via clathrin-coated vesicles. After this transition, yolk protein receptor levels increase markedly at the cortex of the egg. Consistent with its role in yolk uptake, immunogold labeling of the receptor reveals Yl in endocytic structures at the cortex of wild-type vitellogenic oocytes. In addition, shortly after the inception of yolk uptake, we find multivesicular bodies where the yolk and receptor are distinctly partitioned. By the end of vitellogenesis, the receptor localizes predominantly to the cortex of the oocyte. However, during oogenesis in yl mutants that express full-length protein yet fail to incorporate yolk proteins, the receptor remains evenly distributed throughout the oocyte.
Intrinsic references in distributed systems

The notion of intrinsic references, i.e. references based on the hash digest of the referent, is introduced and contrasted with that of physical references, where the referent is defined relative to the state of a physical system. A retrieval mechanism using intrinsic references, the Elephant Store, is presented. The use of intrinsic references in hierarchical data structures is discussed, and the advantages regarding version management, consistency and distributed storage are argued.
Affective intensity and lability: Heritability in adult male twins

Abstract Background Inability to monitor and self-regulate heightened levels of affect lability and affect intensity is associated with a range of mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, psychosomatic symptoms and socially maladaptive behaviors. Despite the importance of these aspects of affective regulation, there are no twin study data to shed light on the genetic and environmental components of these constructs. Methods Affective Lability Scale (ALS) and Affect Intensity Measure (AIM) questionnaires were administered to 796 male twins in the Vietnam Era Twin Registry and subjected to twin and model-fitting analyses. Complete data were available from 182 monozygotic and 119 dizygotic twin pairs. Results Biometrical genetic model-fitting estimates indicated that additive genetic influence accounted for 40% of the variance in affect intensity and 25% of the variance in the ALS subscale assessing anxiety-depression mood shifts. Nonadditive genetic influence was indicated for ALS subscales measuring shifts between normal mood and depression (29%) and anger (27%), respectively. There was negligible evidence of shared environmental influence on affect measures. In contrast, estimates of nonshared environmental influences ranged from 52% to 74%. Limitations Female were not included in this study due to the nature of the twin cohort. Data from subjects in a population cohort may not generalize to clinical populations. Measures of environment were not included. Conclusions These results provide evidence for moderate heritability of affect intensity and specific measures of affect lability. Individual differences in mood regulation may represent phenotypic variation in a core psychobiologic vulnerability (e.g., neurotransmitter systems).
Patch sampling behaviour and future foraging expectations in Argentine ants, Linepithema humile

Nests of Argentine ants, L. humile, were exposed to pairs of foraging patches of varying quality. These patches varied from never having food to having food for 4 h every day. After 15 days, colonies were allowed an added access to a new patch. The new patch, however, never contained food. The sampling behaviour of nests towards the initial patches and the new patch suggested that the nests were using a sampling rule based on maximizing net benefits offinding food minus the cost of sampling. The behaviour of the nests towards the new patch was also significantly aVected by what the foraging workers had previouisly encountered in the foraging patches. The behaviour of the L. humile colonies is similar in pattern to what would result by Bayesian updating of expectations for success in novel foraging opportunities. These data are the first suggestions of such an ability in an insect. ? 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Code and Data Structure Partitioning for Parallel and Flexible MPSoC Specification Using Designer-Controlled Recoding

MultiProcessor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs) are increasingly being used to build efficient and cost-effective embedded systems that meet the necessary real-time requirements. However, programming heterogeneous MPSoCs is highly challenging. The existing automatic parallelizing techniques, although effective on homogeneous shared-memory architectures, are insufficient for MPSoCs, which are typically characterized by heterogeneous processing elements and memory architectures. The lack of effective automatic techniques for recoding and parallelization requires designers to manually partition the code and the data structures in the reference application to generate a parallel and flexible specification model. Such manual algorithm partitioning by the designer is time consuming and error prone. In this paper, we motivate the need for automation in system specification and present a novel designer-controlled approach to recode applications written in a C-based System-Level Description Language. We present six automated source code transformations that, under the control of the designer, automatically partition and reorganize code and data structures to create a parallel and flexible abstract specification model that can be mapped onto a heterogeneous MPSoC using a top-down system-level design flow. Our experimental results show significant productivity gains and quality improvements in the end design.
Convergence and stability of a collocation method for the generalized airfoil equation

We establish the mean-square convergence and numerical stability of a collocation method for solving a class of Cauchy-singular integral equations. The method uses the Jacobi polynomials {P^1^2^,^ ^-^1^2"n} as basis elements and the zeros of the polynomial P^-^1^2^,^1^2"n"+"1 as collocation points. Uniform convergence is shown to hold for the first iterate. Convergence is proved via Vainikko's embedding method, and stability is demonstrated by generalizing the approach of Atkinson for integral equations of the second kind.
A Column Generation Technique for the Computation of Stationary Points

In two recent papers, Eaves showed that Lemke's algorithm can be used to compute a stationary point of an affine function over a polyhedral set. This paper proposes an alternative method which is based on parametric principal pivoting. The proposed method involves solving systems of linear equations and parametric linear subprograms over the given polyhedral set. An obvious advantage of the method is that any special structure of the polyhedral set can be exploited profitably in the solution of the subprograms.
Meta-Analysis: Parental Interventions for Preschool ADHD

Objective: Although psychostimulants are commonly utilized to treat preschoolers with ADHD, side effects and parental preferences limit their use in younger children. The current meta-analysis exam...
Optimization of mobile backbone networks: Improved algorithms and approximation

This paper presents new algorithms for throughput optimization in mobile backbone networks. This hierarchical sensing approach combines mobile backbone nodes, which have superior mobility and communication capability, with regular nodes, which are constrained in mobility and communication capability but which can sense the environment. An important quantity of interest in mobile backbone networks is the number of regular nodes that can be successfully assigned to mobile backbone nodes at a given throughput level. This paper develops a novel technique for optimizing this quantity using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP). The MILP- based algorithm provides a significant reduction in computation time compared to existing methods and is computationally tractable for problems of moderate size. An approximation algorithm is also developed that is appropriate for large- scale problems. This approximation algorithm has a theoretical performance guarantee and is demonstrated to perform well in practice.
A fast multi-channel edge detection algorithm for vision-based autonomous spacecraft docking

In vision-based autonomous spacecraft docking multiple views of scene structure captured with the same camera and scene geometry are available under different lighting conditions. These “multiple exposure” images must be processed to localize visual features to compute the pose of the target object. This paper describes a novel multi-channel edge detection algorithm that localizes the structure of the target object by merging the gradient information of these multiple exposure images using tensor voting. This approach reduces the effect of illumination variation, including the effect of shadow edges, over the use of a single image and over simple combinations of single-channel edge maps. Compared to a recently proposed multi-channel edge detection approach using GMM modeling [18], the proposed approach can generate edge maps of comparable quality in much less time.
Child maltreatment risk among adolescent mothers: a study of reported cases

A large random sample of reported child maltreatment incidents are analyzed in terms of the research question: Is there a higher incidence of maltreatment by women who were adolescent mothers than by older mothers? Results from the official records studied indicate similar dynamic variables reported for both groups of mothers. The nature and limitations of the data are discussed, and implications and suggestions for further research are presented. Language: en
The EVA Approach to Investing

[Chapter Introduction and Objectives]: That there is no profit unless the company earns the cost of capital is at the heart of some relatively new performance metrics like economic value added (EVA), which is defined as the difference between the net operating profit after taxes and the capital consumed. Many companies around the world have announced their commitment to improving their EVA. Analysts and fund managers who evaluate investment potential from the perspective investors are increasingly turning to EVA as an indicator of firm performance. This chapter discusses the EVA approach to investing. This chapter discusses the following objectives: • Discuss the calculation and characteristics of EVA • Highlight competitors to EVA • Provide evidence on EVA companies • Highlight how the implementation of EVA can lead to values enhancing strategies in a firm Since the objective of a firm is to maximize shareholders' wealth, a performance measure should have high correlation with changes in shareholders' wealth. Managers are commonly appraised on measures like return on assets, earnings per share, and return on equity that does not capture value. Managers focus on cash flows while evaluating capital investments; but when it comes to performance measurement, accounting measures take over. If a company changes its accounting method from first-in-first-out (FIFO) to last-in-first-out (LIFO) during a period of high inflation, cash flow increases but earnings fall. Similarly, when a company acquires another company, there may be special write-offs like amortization of good will that are noncash in nature. The earnings per share falls but cash flow is unaltered. Moreover, these measures can be easily manipulated due to 'denominator management'. One can increase the value of these ratios by simply cutting down whatever that appears in the denominator. Profit itself is not an appropriate measure of performance because it does not capture either the amount of capital used to generate those earnings or the required rate of return on capital. A good performance measure is one that incorporates all three. EVA is an accounting-based measure of operating performance. The period could be a month, quarter, half year, or a year. The entity whose performance is being measured could be a division or the firm itself. EVA is the difference between accounting earnings - with suitable adjustments for interest and some accounting methods - and the cost of capital used to generate these earnings.
Robust decentralized optimal output feedback

Sufficient conditions are developed for characterizing robust decentralized static output feedback controllers. The approach involves deriving necessary conditions for minimizing a bound on closed-loop performance over a specified range of uncertain parameters. The effect of plant parameter variations on the closed-loop covariance is overbounded by means of a modified Lyapunov equation whose solutions are guaranteed to provide robust stability and performance.
A Fuzzy Associative Memory for the Classification of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants

This paper presents the development and testing of a fuzzy associative memory (FAM) architecture for use in the classification of chemical warfare agent simulants. A hybrid ion mobility spectrometry time-of-flight mass spectrometry (IMS(tof)MS) instrument was used to collect data for two chemical warfare agent simulants: dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) and tributyl phosphate (TBP). A preprocessor was developed to convert the raw IMS(tof)MS data file into a set of triplets containing the values for the mass, K0 (reduced mobility), and intensity for each point in the original 2-dimensional data set. Due to the small amount of available real data, synthetic data sets were also created. A classification system was constructed consisting of a FAM trained by either DMMP data or TBP data. Repeated experiments were run using different sample set configurations for training and testing. Experiment scenarios included instances where real data sets were used for training, and cases where synthetic data were used for training; the test sets contained a mixture of both real and synthetic data each time. Training was done with training sets as small as only a single sample. The results were excellent: the system was able to correctly classify the DMMP and TBP data, both real and simulated, 100% of the time.
Mimicking celestial mechanics in metamaterials

Einstein’s general theory of relativity establishes equality between matter–energy density and the curvature of spacetime. As a result, light and matter follow natural paths in the inherent spacetime and may experience bending and trapping in a specific region of space. So far, the interaction of light and matter with curved spacetime has been predominantly studied theoretically and through astronomical observations. Here, we propose to link the newly emerged field of artificial optical materials to that of celestial mechanics, thus opening the way to investigate light phenomena reminiscent of orbital motion, strange attractors and chaos, in a controlled laboratory environment. The optical–mechanical analogy enables direct studies of critical light/matter behaviour around massive celestial bodies and, on the other hand, points towards the design of novel optical cavities and photon traps for application in microscopic devices and lasers systems. Black holes are difficult to study experimentally, owing to their distance from us and indeed their very nature. A theoretical study suggests that optical metamaterials that exhibit behaviour that is reminiscent of that of black holes, could enable us to learn more about these and other astrophysical objects.
Strategic Online Advertising: Modeling Internet User Behavior with Advertising.com

We investigated how online advertising could be made more receptive to Internet users' needs, thereby improving the efficacy. Only three to five viewers in a thousand click on a given online banner advertisement. To improve the low response rate, marketers need to reach the right audience, which will yield a higher return on advertising dollars by eliminating wasted ads and maximizing campaign effectiveness. Users will see relevant ads based on their preferences and fewer ads that do not interest them. We identified and modeled user behavior and characterized a subpopulation of users to help predict advertising response. We then developed an exploratory optimization and targeting technology for use by Advertising.com by serving users ads probabilistically on the basis of their online behaviors. After preliminary algorithm validation, the increase in early user clicks indicates the potential effectiveness of these models in improving the online advertising response rate. The resultant potential increase in action could lead to increased revenue.
Desorption electro-flow focusing ionization of explosives and narcotics for ambient pressure mass spectrometry

Desorption electro-flow focusing ionization (DEFFI), a desorption-based ambient ion source, was developed, characterized, and evaluated as a possible source for field deployable ambient pressure mass spectrometry (APMS). DEFFI, based on an electro-flow focusing system, provides a unique configuration for the generation of highly charged energetic droplets for sample analysis and ionization. A concentrically flowing carrier gas focuses the liquid emanating from a capillary through a small orifice, generating a steady fluid jet. An electric field is applied across this jet formation region, producing high velocity charged droplets that impinge on an analyte laden surface. This configuration separates the jet charging region from the external environment, eliminating detrimental effects from droplet space charge or target surface charging. The sample desorption and ionization processes operate similar to desorption electrospray ionization (DESI). DEFFI demonstrated strong signal intensities and improved signal-to-noise ratios in both positive and negative mode mass spectrometry for narcotics, i.e., cocaine, and explosives, i.e., cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), respectively. A characterization of DEFFI ionization mechanisms identified operation regimes of both electrospray and corona discharge based analyte ionization, as well as limitations in overall signal. In addition, the DEFFI response was directly compared to DESI-MS under similar operating conditions. This comparison established a wider and more stable optimal operating range, while requiring an order of magnitude lower applied gas pressure and applied potential for DEFFI than DESI. These reductions are due to the physical mode of jet formation and geometric configuration differences between DEFFI and DESI, pointing to a potential benefit of DEFFI-MS for field implementation.
Isolation outcome and functional characteristics of young and adult pig pancreatic islets for transplantation studies.

: Introduction: Pig islets have been proposed as an alternative to human islets for clinical use, but their use is limited by rejection. The availability of genetically modified pigs devoid of α1,3-galactosyltransferase might provide islets more suitable for xenotransplantation. To limit the costs involved in the logistics and health care of pigs for clinical xenotransplantation, we have studied whether younger, rather than older, pigs that are typically preferred can be used as islet donors. Methods: We utilized pancreases from Yorkshire and White Landrace wild-type pigs and α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout pigs of three main different age and size groups: (i) 2 yr of age, inclusive of retired breeders. We compared isolation yield and in vitro and in vivo function of islet cells obtained from these groups. Results: Islets from adult pigs (>2 yr) offered not only higher islet yields, but retained the ability to preserve intact morphology during the isolation process and culture, in association with high functional properties after transplantation. Following isolation, islet cells from young (<6 m) and young-adult (6 to 12 m) pigs dissociated into small aggregates and single cells, and exhibited inferior functional properties than adult islets both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: These data support the conclusion that, in view of the large number of islets needed to maintain normoglycemia after xenotransplantation, organ-source pigs need to reach adult age (>2 yr) before being considered optimal islet donors, in spite of the higher costs involved.
Estimation of Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density from 368-nm Spectral Irradiance*

The estimation of photosynthetically active radiation across the earth’s surface is needed to model plant productivity and future impacts of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on plant productivity. While radiation in the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths is routinely measured using broadband and multifilter rotating shadowband radiometers in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) UV-B Climate Monitoring Network, measurements of photosynthetically active radiation have not been made prior to 2002. Three models were developed to estimate the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) from measurements of the diffuse and global spectral irradiance at 368 nm made by multifilter rotating shadowband radiometers. The models were developed from measurements made at half-hour intervals between March and November 2002 at five USDA UV-B Climate Monitoring Network locations in the United States between 348 and 438N latitude and 778 and 1128W longitude. The model that best estimated the PPFD included global and diffuse 368-nm irradiance, solar zenith angle, sky brightness, and aerosol transmittance and had a residual error of 79 mmol m22 s 21 PPFD. The best two-variable model for estimating PPFD utilized measured global and diffuse 368-nm irradiance, with a root-mean-squared error of 85 mmol m22 s 21. Since errors of the order of 80 mmol m22 s 21 represent biologically significant amounts of dry matter production in crops and the 9% model error is approximately twice that of the nominal measurement error for the PPFD sensor, PPFD measurements should be made and not modeled wherever possible.
Constipation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Objectives To determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of constipation among patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Study design This cross-sectional prospective study included 120 patients (age range 5-30 years old) with an established diagnosis of DMD. Participants filled out the constipation section of a validated Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms based on Rome-III Criteria (QPGS-RIII) for the diagnosis of functional constipation as part of a routine clinic visit. We evaluated several potential screening methods for constipation: the Bristol stool form scale, routine physical examination, and fecal load on abdominal radiograph. These methods were compared with the QPGS-RIII in diagnosing functional constipation. Risk factors for the development of functional constipation were determined. Results Based on the QPGS-RIII, 46.7% of patients with DMD in this cohort were diagnosed with functional constipation. Prevalence was not affected by age or functional status. None of the screening methods tested were sensitive enough to diagnose functional constipation. Among patients with constipation, only 43.6% received specific treatment for constipation and only one-half of these treated patients reported resolution of constipation. Conclusions This study systematically examined constipation among patients with DMD and provides evidence that constipation among patients with DMD is highly prevalent, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. QPGS-RIII is easy to administer and is an efficient tool to diagnose functional constipation in patients with DMD in a clinic setting.
Recognition and recall in slow movements: separate memory states?

If slow positioning movements are governed only by a recognition process (e.g., Schmidt, 1975) then subject’s performance should be independent of the mode of response (active versus passive). Two groups learned a criterion movement under either active or passive conditions following which KR was withdrawn. Although no differences were apparent on acquisition trials, active-group performance deteriorated dramatically during KR withdrawal while passive-group performance remained stable. These results suggest that recall and recognition are potentially separable in slow movements on the basis of the information available to the performer.
Trace metal-citric acid complexes as inhibitors of calcification and crystal formation.

AbstractAt high citrate:metal ratios the small polyvalent metals Fe3+, Be2+, Al3+, and Cr3+ interact with citrate to form potent inhibitors of both calcium uptake by a calcifiable matrix and crystal formation from a metastable solution of calcium phosphate. These unique metal-citrate complexes are effective inhibitors at 0.2-30 × 10−6M, with iron (III) citrate being the most potent. The inhibitor effects of mixtures of the metal-citrate complexes are additive. These observations define a new role for citrate and indicate how certain trace elements may, by interaction with citrate, be important determinants in the control of calcium salt deposition in vivo. The possible pertinence of these observations to the deposition of calcium salts within the kidney and to the prevalence of idiopathic calculi in various geographic areas is now under investigation.
Scaling properties of three-dimensional random fibre networks

AbstractRandom fibre networks have unique mechanical properties and appear as the primary building blocks of many biological and structural materials. Although fibre networks are usually three-dimensional in nature, prior studies have mainly used simplistic two-dimensional models to characterize their properties. The present study creates a 3D strain-based nonaffinity measure and investigates the mechanical behaviour and scaling properties of 3D fibre networks. This measure is used to fully examine the influence of primarily characteristic length scales, i.e. mean segment length and bending length, on nonaffine mechanical behaviour of 3D filamentous networks. It is observed that all nonaffinity measure components exhibit a power-law variation with the probing length scale. Furthermore, it is found that while the degree of nonaffinity in both 2D and 3D systems decreases with increasing the probing length scale, the two power-law scaling regimes previously reported for 2D networks do not appear in 3D.
Gallium-67 Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Renal Cortical Abscess

AbstractClinical and radiologic diagnosis of a renal cortical abscess in difficult. A plain x-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder, an excretory urogram with nephrotomography, nephrosonography and renal angiography may not be helpful in the diagnosis. A case is presented of bilateral polycystic kidneys with a renal cortical abscess of the lower pole of the left kidney. An abscess could not be localized by the routine radiologic procedures. Gallium-67 scintigraphy demonstrated a renal cortical abscess of the left kidney, which was treated successfully by operation.
Population Dynamics in Consumers

The growth or decline of a population over a period of time can be expressed in terms of the changes in biomass. The changes that occur are the result of the sum of the individuals born (R) minus those dying (M) during the interval, the growth (G) of the individuals in the population, and of the net difference between emigration (E) and immigration (I).
Stereotype threat and gender differences in chemistry

Stereotype threat theory (STT) offers one explanation for achievement differences in math and science for both women and minority students. Specifically, STT posits that the perceived risk of confirming a negative stereotype about an individual’s identity group acts as a psychological burden that negatively impacts performance. This study examined the impact of stereotype threat (ST) on gender differences in chemistry achievement, self-efficacy, and test-anxiety using a four-group, quasi-experimental design. 153 introductory-level college chemistry students were randomly assigned to one of four ST conditions including an explicit ST condition, an implicit ST condition, a reverse ST condition, and a nullified condition. Results indicated that there were no gender differences by ST condition; however, overall, the men had higher self-efficacy and lower test-anxiety than the women. An analysis of open-ended questions asking students about their intent to major in chemistry, beliefs regarding barriers to their achievement on the chemistry test, and gender differences in opportunities and mental capacity to achieve in chemistry provided insight into the quantitative results. Implications of our findings for future research on ST are discussed.
Developing and Implementing a Professional Practice Model

Professional practice models guide nursing practice by giving meaning to the work of nurses. They elevate the practice from tasks to theory, from skills to knowledge, and remind us that the patient and family are at the center of our practice. Professional practice models are one of the foundations of the Magnet Recognition Program. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and implementation of a professional practice model in a healthcare system, which includes three hospitals and over 80 ambulatory practices in the New York City region.
Minimal Models and the Generalized Ontic Conception of Scientific Explanation

ABSTRACTBatterman and Rice ([2014]) argue that minimal models possess explanatory power that cannot be captured by what they call ‘common features’ approaches to explanation. Minimal models are exp...
Traveling toward Proof

Student success with proof is an important but elusive goal of many mathematics programs (Senk 1985; Battista and Clements 1995). After lengthy struggles with this challenge, we have invented an extended metaphor that happily bridges the gap between students’ work with logic and their creation of proofs. It fits into our curriculum after students have been well immersed in multiple translations of conditionals and are familiar with valid arguments, in particular, the direct argument, or modus ponens, and the chain rule, or law of transitivity. The metaphor uses an imaginary airline that is named after a famous mathematician or logician (Rubenstein, Craine, Butts, et al. 1998, 394). We assume that Aristotle Airlines serves cities in North America with the routes shown in the route map above. We ask students to think of themselves as travel agents who plan itineraries for air travel. For planning purposes, we can write a flow diagram with arrows connecting cities and with flights indicated under each arrow. For example, the following diagram could represent an Aristotle Airlines itinerary for travel from New York to Mexico City.
Chapter 17 - Deltas

Fluvial-, tidal-, and wave-dominated or -influenced deltas produce distinctive coastal morphologies, as well as have diagnostic lateral and stratigraphic facies trends. The matrix of possible combinations of these parameters is evident in the resultant sedimentology and ichnology. Reworking of fluvial-derived sediments at the coastline by oceanographic processes (e.g., wave and tidal) controls the intensity, diversity, and distribution of trace fossils in deltaic environments. The ichnological characteristics of a deltaic succession can be used to infer relative importance of fluvial, tidal, or wave processes and to refine subenvironments of marine deltas. The dominant physicochemical controls on the spatial distribution of trace fossils in deltaic settings are sedimentation rate, salinity, and hydrodynamic energy.
Three-dimensional metamaterials with a negative Poisson's ratio and a non-positive coefficient of thermal expansion

Abstract Four types of three-dimensional (3-D) metallic metamaterials with tailorable thermo-mechanical properties are designed. For the first three types, the structure-property relations are studied by adjusting design parameters including two length parameters, one angle parameter and two material combinations. For the fourth type, one additional angle parameter is involved. It is shown that each of the four types of metamaterials designed exhibits the cubic symmetry and thus needs three independent elastic constants to characterize its elastic behavior and one coefficient of thermal expansion to describe its isotropic thermal expansion. The effects of the design parameters on the effective Poisson's ratio (PR), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), Young's modulus, shear modulus and the relative density are systematically investigated for each of the four types of designed metamaterials by using unit cell-based finite element simulations that incorporate periodic boundary conditions. It is found that 3-D metallic metamaterials with positive, near-zero or negative PR and CTE can be obtained by tailoring the bi-material lattice structures and material combinations. Also, it is revealed that metamaterial # 1 can achieve both a negative PR and a non-positive CTE while maintaining a high stiffness and a low relative density (and thus a lightweight). The good tunability of thermo-mechanical properties of the four types of metamaterials provides an avenue of enabling the expansion of Ashby's material chart to produce more material options for engineering applications.
Risk-based security-constrained optimal power flow: Mathematical fundamentals, computational strategies, validation, and use within electricity markets

This dissertation contributes to develop the mathematical fundamentals and computational strategies of risk-based security-constrained optimal power flow (RBSCOPF) and validate its application in electricity markets. The RB-SCOPF enforces three types of flow-related constraints: normal state deterministic flow limits, contingency state deterministic flow limits (the “N-1” criteria), and contingency state system risk, which depends only on contingency states but not the normal state. Each constraint group is scaled by a single parameter setting allowing tradeoffs between deterministic constraints and system risk. Relative to the security-constrained optimal power flow (SCOPF) used in industry today, the RB-SCOPF finds operating conditions that are more secure and more economic. It does this by obtaining solutions that achieve better balance between postcontingency flows on individual circuits and overall system risk. The method exploits the fact that, in a SCOPF solution, some post-contingency circuit flows which exceed their limits impose little risk while other post-contingency circuit flows which are within their limits impose significant risk. The RB-SCOPF softens constraints for the former and hardens constraints for the latter, thus achieving simultaneous improvement in both security and economy. Although the RB-SCOPF is more time-intensive to solve than SCOPF, we have developed efficient algorithms that allow RB-SCOPF to solve in sufficient time for use in real-time electricity markets. In contrast to SCOPF, which motivates market behavior to offload circuit flows exceeding rated flows, the use of RB-SCOPF provides price signals that motivate market behavior to offload circuit flows and to enhance system-wide security levels. Voltage stability testing has demonstrated that the dispatch result based on RB-
In vitro reconstitution of lateral to end-on conversion of kinetochore–microtubule attachments

Abstract During mitosis, kinetochores often bind to the walls of spindle microtubules, but these lateral interactions are then converted into a different binding mode in which microtubule plus-ends are embedded at kinetochores, forming dynamic “end-on” attachments. This remarkable configuration allows continuous addition or loss of tubulin subunits from the kinetochore-bound microtubule ends, concomitant with movement of the chromosomes. Here, we describe novel experimental assays for investigating this phenomenon using a well-defined in vitro reconstitution system visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Our assays take advantage of the kinetochore kinesin CENP-E, which assists in microtubule end conversion in vertebrate cells. In the experimental setup, CENP-E is conjugated to coverslip-immobilized microbeads coated with selected kinetochore components, creating conditions suitable for microtubule gliding and formation of either static or dynamic end-on microtubule attachment. This system makes it possible to analyze, in a systematic and rigorous manner, the molecular friction generated by the microtubule wall-binding proteins during lateral transport, as well as the ability of these proteins to establish and maintain association with microtubule plus-end, providing unique insights into the specific activities of various kinetochore components.
Leveraging Expert Feature Knowledge for Predicting Image Aesthetics

The ability to rank the images based on their appearance finds many real-world applications, such as image retrieval or image album creation. Despite the recent dominance of deep learning methods in computer vision which often result in superior performance, they are not always the methods of choice because they lack interpretability. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of improving the image aesthetic inference of the convolutional neural networks with hand-designed features that rely on domain expertise in various fields. We perform a comparison of hand-crafted feature sets in their ability to predict fine-grained aesthetics scores on two image aesthetics data sets. We observe that even feature sets published earlier are able to compete with more recently published algorithms and, by combining the algorithms, a significant improvement in predicting image aesthetics is possible. By using a tree-based learner, we perform the feature elimination to understand the best performing features overall and across different image categories. Only roughly 15% and 8% of the features are needed to achieve full performance in predicting a fine-grained aesthetic score and binary classification, respectively. By combining the hand-crafted features with metafeatures that predict the quality of an image based on convolutional neural network features, the model performs better than a baseline VGG16 model. One can, however, achieve more significant improvement in both aesthetics score prediction and binary classification by fusing the hand-crafted features and the penultimate layer activations. Our experiments indicate an improvement up to 2.2% achieving current state-of-the-art binary classification accuracy on the aesthetic visual analysis data set when the hand-designed features are fused with activations from VGG16 and ResNet50 networks.
Unstructured Large Group Learning

A Groupwork and Family Training Course is a large group held in a host organisation. The different events in the Course have a structure suited to the learning function. For example, an expert lecturing has a Chairman who arranges a discussion after the lecture for a large gathering in a room equipped with blackboard and audiovisual aids. This event requires a structured large group.
ARES: triggering payload of evasive Android malware

With the emergence of mobile application markets, there has been a dramatic increase in mobile malware. Mobile platform providers are constantly creating and refining their malware-detection techniques, including static analysis and behavioral monitoring. The goal of malware writers is to hide the malware payload from those analyzers. In parallel, security analysts want to quickly detect if any software is malware in order to prevent harm to users. This confrontation is pushing malware writers to develop new evasion techniques that prevent their malware from being detected or making analysis harder. This paper describes Ares, a system built on top of an existing behavioral analysis, based on static information-flow analysis, binary instrumentation, and multiexecution analysis, to detect and bypass many common evasive techniques used by mobile malware. Additionally, this paper presents our implementation of Ares, and shows that, when run against real-world software, Ares is able to reveal previously unknown malicious components. We also developed a test suite for evasion detection techniques: Evadroid, which we have made fully available to other researchers.