cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolating the segment of the mitochondrial electron transport chain responsible for mitochondrial damage during cardiac ischemia.

Abstract Ischemia damages the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), mediated in part by damage generated by the mitochondria themselves. Mitochondrial damage resulting from ischemia, in turn, leads to cardiac injury during reperfusion. The goal of the present study was to localize the segment of the ETC that produces the ischemic mitochondrial damage. We tested if blockade of the proximal ETC at complex I differed from blockade distal in the chain at cytochrome oxidase. Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused for 15 min followed by 30 min stop-flow ischemia at 37 °C. Amobarbital (2.5 mM) or azide (5 mM) was used to block proximal (complex I) or distal (cytochrome oxidase) sites in the ETC. Time control hearts were buffer-perfused for 45 min. Subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM) and interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) were isolated. Ischemia decreased cytochrome c content in SSM but not in IFM compared to time control. Blockade of electron transport at complex I preserved the cytochrome c content in SSM. In contrast, blockade of electron transport at cytochrome oxidase with azide did not retain cytochrome c in SSM during ischemia. Since blockade of electron transport at complex III also prevented cytochrome c loss during ischemia, the specific site that elicits mitochondrial damage during ischemia is likely located in the segment between complex III and cytochrome oxidase.
Towards a ‘Cure’ for IBD

To discuss a cure for IBD, one should first define the concept ‘a cure’. If it is intended as the general restoration of health, this is already possible, as many current therapies do a good job in in
Some chemical and histological changes in dehydrated apple

The effects of several dehydration processes on chemical compounds which may contribute to apple flavours and histological changes were investigated. It was shown that the effects on chemical compounds and histological changes were minimal by freeze dehydration as compared with other dehydration processes studied. Cryogenic freezing and osmotic dehydration treatments prior to freeze dehydration prevented cellular damage during the freezing step and had little adverse effect on the tissue of freeze dehydrated apple slices.
A software approach for combating asymmetries of non-volatile memories

The recent advances in non-volatile memory technologies promise the delivery of future high performance and low power computing systems. While these technologies provide attractive features, they exhibit different degrees of asymmetric read/write behavior, resulting in under utilization of the technology benefits in many scenarios. Future systems should be aware of this asymmetry to fully utilize these memory technologies. In this paper, we propose software dispatch, a cross-layer approach to distribute data to appropriate memory resources based on an application's data access characteristics. We demonstrate the application of the proposed technique through a case study system with hybrid memory caches, on which we achieve over 5% performance improvement and 9.8% power savings compared to the state-of-the-art technique.
Neonatal Induction of Myelin-specific Th1/Th17 Immunity Does Not Result in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Can Protect Against the Disease in Adulthood

Abstract The neonatal immune system is believed to be biased towards T helper type 2 (Th2) immunity, but under certain conditions neonates can also develop Th1 immune responses. Neonatal Th2 immunity to myelin antigens is not pathogenic and can prevent induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in adulthood, but the consequences of neonatally induced Th1 immunity to self-antigens have remained unresolved. Here, we show that neonatal injection of mice with myelin antigens emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced vigorous production of IFN-γ and IL-17, but not IL-5, consistent with myelin-specific Th1/Th17 immunity. Importantly, the myelin-specific Th1/Th17 cells persisted in the mice until adulthood without causing symptoms of EAE. Intraperitoneal, but not subcutaneous injection of neonates with myelin antigens protected against induction of EAE as adults. Intraperitoneally injected neonates showed a substantial decrease of the number and avidity of myelin-reactive Th17 cells, suggesting a decrease in IL-17 producing precursor cells as the mechanism of protection from EAE upon re-injection with myelin antigens as adults. The results could provide a rationale for the presence of autoreactive T cells found in healthy human individuals without autoimmune disease.
Teaching the Language of Feelings to Students With Severe Emotional and Behavioral Handicaps

Educators in school programs are challenged to help children with severe emotional problems learn to use language to express their thoughts and feelings and describe and process their emotional con...
Quantifying the experience of color

An investigation to quantify experience of color was performed. It was demonstrated that experience of color can be described objectively, so that predictable visual sensations can be elicited by adjusting the relationships between colors. Central to this investigation is the formulation of a model of color experience that describes color relationships based on the types of interactions between colors. The model adjusts formal compositional attributes such as hue, value, chroma, and their contrasts, as well as size, and proportion. The investigation is developed within the context of the computer screen, where graphical elements, such as random matrices and text, serve as the color stimuli. Relative scaling experiments resulted in guidelines for adjusting the experience of color. The findings of this investigation have application in many areas, including color selection and color reproduction.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Arachidonate metabolism during chondrogenesis in vitro.

Chick embryo limb bud mesenchyme cells undergoing chondrogenesisin vitro were labeled with [3H] arachidonic acid and [14C] palmitic acid, and stimulated by mechanical means to convert a portion of their incorporated [3H] to radiolabeled compounds which co-chromatographed with authentic prostaglandins in the appropriate thin layer chromatography system. Chondrogenesis was (1) inhibited by concentrations of indomethacin or eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid which inhibited conversion of [3H] to prostaglandinlike compounds; and (2) stimulated by prostaglandin E2. We interpret these data to mean that (1) cells undergoing chondrogenesisin vitro are able to metabolize endogenous arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, and (2) synthesis of prostaglandinlike compounds is requisite to chondrogenesisin vitro.
Determination of stability constants for zinc-pyrophosphate complexes.

Abstract Numerical values of the stability constants for several zinc-pyrophosphate complexes were determined at 25°C and 0.20 m ionic strength using a potentiometric titration method. Values of 7.36, 4.49, and 5.63 were found for log KZnPP, log KZnHPP, and log KZnOHPP. These constants govern the formation of the ZnP 2 O 7 2− complex, the ZnHP 2 O 7 1− complex, and the ZnOHP 2 O 7 3− complex, respectively.
Examining the Implications of Process and Choice for: Strategic Decision Making Effectiveness

Most strategic decision-making SDM approaches advocate the importance of decision-making processes and response choices for obtaining effective outcomes. Modern decision-making support system DMSS technology is often also needed for complex SDM, with recent research calling for more integrative DMSS approaches. However, scholars tend to take disintegrated approaches and disagree on whether rational or political decision-making processes result in more effective decision outcomes. In this study, the authors examine these issues by first exploring some of the competing theoretical arguments for the process-choice-effectiveness relationship, and then test these relationships empirically using data from a crisis response training exercise using an intelligent agent-based DMSS. In contrast to prior research, findings indicate that rational decision processes are not effective in crisis contexts, and that political decision processes may negatively influence both response choice and decision effectiveness. These results offer empirical evidence to confirm prior unsupported arguments that response choice is an important mediating factor between the decision-making process and its effectiveness. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings and the application of agent-based simulation DMSS technologies for academic research and practice.
Can hybrid DFT methods correctly compute the potential energy surface formic acid dimerization and proton transfer in the formic acid dimer? A comparison of hybrid DFT computed values with experimental and G1, G2, and G2MP2 generated data

Abstract The geometries of formic acid, the formic acid dimer, and the transition state structure for proton transfer in the formic acid dimer were computed with ab initio (HF and MP2) and hybrid DFT methods (B3LYP, B3P86, and B3PW91). The energy profile for this transformation was computed using the previously listed methods, as well as the Gaussian (G1, G2, and G2MP2) ab initio computational approach. The generated geometries and energies were compared with experimental data and the apparent shortcomings of the hybrid DFT methods for computation of this and similar systems are discussed.
Spatial range of autocrine signaling: modeling and computational analysis.

Autocrine loops formed by growth factors and their receptors have been identified in a large number of developmental, physiological, and pathological contexts. In general, the spatially distributed and recursive nature of autocrine signaling systems makes their experimental analysis, and often even their detection, very difficult. Here, we combine Brownian motion theory, Monte Carlo simulations, and reaction-diffusion models to analyze the spatial operation of autocrine loops. Within this modeling framework, the ability of autocrine cells to recapture the endogenous ligand and the distances traveled by autocrine ligands are explicitly related to ligand diffusion coefficients, density of surface receptors, ligand secretion rate, and rate constants of ligand binding and endocytic internalization. Applying our models to study autocrine loops in the epidermal growth factor receptor system, we find that autocrine loops can be highly localized— even at the level of a single cell. We demonstrate how the variations in molecular and cellular parameters may "tune" the spatial range of autocrine signals over several orders of magnitude: from microns to millimeters. We argue that this versatile regulation of the spatial range of autocrine signaling enables autocrine cells to perceive a broad spectrum of environmental information.
Surgical Treatment of Acute Aortic Regurgitation in Infective Endocarditis

During a six-year period 15 consecutive patients with isolated aortic regurgitation due to infective endocarditis were encountered. None had prior significant aortic valve disease. Elective valve replacement was performed in 13 patients; emergency operation was needed in only 1 patient because of intractable pulmonary edema. One patient died suddenly from acute heart block while undergoing medical treatment. Preoperative cardiac catheterization studies in 10 of the 14 patients revealed gross elevations of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, pulmonary hypertension, depressed cardiac output, and 3 to 4+ aortic regurgitation. There was 1 early and 1 late postoperative death, both due to systemic embolism, yielding an overall surgical mortality of 14%. After a mean follow-up of 18 months, 10 of the 11 patients are in New York Heart Association Functional Class I. Most patients with acute aortic regurgitation secondary to infective endocarditis have clinically observable congestive heart failure and will eventually require valve replacement. If congestive heart failure can be stabilized by a medical regimen, a course of antibiotic therapy can be administered and elective valve replacement can be performed. The time taken for preoperative antibiotic treatment is not associated with irreversible myocardial damage sufficient to influence the results of operation.
The Effect of Hydrogen on the Carbonaceous Layer Formed on Molybdenum Model Catalysts during High Temperature Propylene Metathesis

Abstract The formation and hydrogen removal of the thick carbonaceous layer accumulated during metathesis of propylene at 880 K on molybdenum and molybdenum oxide model catalysts is examined. It is determined that a hydrocarbon layer several monolayers thick forms rapidly during reaction, and that a portion of this layer may be easily removed by heating the used catalyst in hydrogen. An activation energy of 6.4±0.4 kcal/mol is observed for this process. A graphitic layer also forms slowly on the catalyst surface during reaction, and this layer is difficult to remove by reaction with hydrogen. It is demonstrated that addition of hydrogen to the metathesis reaction mixture reduces the thickness of the carbonaceous layer on the catalyst surface during reaction, thereby enhancing the observed metathesis rate.
Thermal Conductivity of Methane Hydrate from Experiment and Molecular Simulation

A single-sided transient plane source technique has been used to determine the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of a compacted methane hydrate sample over the temperature range of 261.5-277.4 K and at gas-phase pressures ranging from 3.8 to 14.2 MPa. The average thermal conductivity, 0.68 +/- 0.01 W/(m K), and thermal diffusivity, 2.04 x 10(-7) +/- 0.04 x 10(-7) m2/s, values are, respectively, higher and lower than previously reported values. Equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of methane hydrate have also been performed in the NPT ensemble to estimate the thermal conductivity for methane compositions ranging from 80 to 100% of the maximum theoretical occupation, at 276 K and at pressures ranging from 0.1 to 100 MPa. Calculations were performed with three rigid potential models for water, namely, SPC/E, TIP4P-Ew, and TIP4P-FQ, the last of which includes the effects of polarizability. The thermal conductivities predicted from MD simulations were in reasonable agreement with experimental results, ranging from about 0.52 to 0.77 W/(m K) for the different potential models with the polarizable water model giving the best agreement with experiments. The MD simulation method was validated by comparing calculated and experimental thermal conductivity values for ice and liquid water. The simulations were in reasonable agreement with experimental data. The simulations predict a slight increase in the thermal conductivity with decreasing methane occupation of the hydrate cages. The thermal conductivity was found to be essentially independent of pressure in both simulations and experiments. Our experimental and simulation thermal conductivity results provide data to help predict gas hydrate stability in sediments for the purposes of production or estimating methane release into the environment due to gradual warming.
Biosynthesis of N-methylphenethylamine in Dolichothele sphaerica

Abstract Living Dolichothele sphaerica metabolized 1.91% of administered [2-14Clphenylalanine to N- methylphenethylamine. Phenethylamine, the presumable intermediate in this biosynthetic conversion, was detected in an extract of the cactus in very low concentrations. The addition of carrier to the extract allowed the isolation of radiolabelled phenethylamine and the establishment of its probable involvement in N- methylphenethylamine formation. This is the first report of N- methylphenethylamine biosynthesis, of phenyl- alanine serving as an efficient precursor to cactus alkaloids, and of the occurrence of phenethylamine in the Cactaceae.
Polarimetric channel characterization of foliage for performance assessment of GPS receivers under tree canopies

The attenuation, depolarization, and fluctuation of a microwave signal going through a tree canopy are investigated by developing a Monte Carlo based coherent scattering model. In particular, the model is used to analyze the performance of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers under tree canopies. Also the frequency and time-domain channel characteristics of a forest are investigated when a transmitter is outside and a receiver is inside a forest. A fractal algorithm (Lindenmayer system) is used to generate the structure of coniferous or deciduous trees whose basic building blocks are arbitrarily oriented finite cylinders, thin dielectric needles, and thin dielectric disks. Attenuation and phase change of the mean field through foliage is accounted for using Foldy's approximation. Scattering of the mean field from individual tree components and their images in the underlying ground plane are computed analytically and added coherently. Since tree trunks and some branches are large compared to the wavelength and may be in the close proximity of the receiver, a closed-form and uniform expression for the scattered near-field from dielectric cylinders is also developed. Monte Carlo simulation of field calculation is applied to a cluster of trees in order to estimate the statistics of the channel parameters, such as the probability density function (pdf) of the polarization state of the transmitted field, path loss, and the incoherent scattered power (the second moment of the scattered field), as a function of the observation point above the ground.
Trustmarks, Objective-Source Ratings, and Implied Investments in Advertising: Investigating Online Trust and the Context-Specific Nature of Internet Signals:

The purpose of this study is to provide a preliminary investigation of the effectiveness of Internet marketers’ various attempts to develop consumer trust through Web signals. The work is an exploration of the context-specific nature of trust in e-commerce. An online experiment compares three potential signals of trust in an Internet retail firm: (1) a third-party certification (i.e., a “trustmark”), (2) an objective-source rating (i.e., a review from Consumer Reports magazine), and (3) an implication of investment in advertising (i.e., a television advertisement to air during the Super Bowl). The trustmark had the greatest effect on perceived trustworthiness, influencing respondents’ beliefs about security and privacy, general beliefs about firm trustworthiness, and willingness to provide personal information. The relationship between Internet experience and trust was in the form of an inverted U.
Psychosocial Care of Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer and Survivors

The delivery of quality care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer and survivors requires an understanding of the unique qualities of this group—the shared norms, attitudes, and beliefs that determine their behavior as well as the unique stresses they face on a day-to-day basis. All AYAs have typical concerns about being comfortable with who they are and who they want to become (identity development, including sexual identity), their bodies (body image), initiating intimate and emotional relationships, separating from parents, and making independent decisions about future goals such as career, higher education, and/or family (autonomy). Yet efforts of AYA patients with cancer and survivors to mature are often confounded by restrictions and limitations placed on them by their disease and treatment. This article promotes understanding of psychosocial challenges faced by AYAs when diagnosed with and treated for cancer. It reviews evidence-based psychosocial support interventions for AYAs with cancer and other life-threatening or chronic diseases, particularly the positive effects of peer support, technology-based interventions, and skill-based interventions. The article concludes with recommendations for clinical care that are intended to promote the ability of AYAs to cope with cancer. J Clin Oncol 30:1221-1226. © 2012 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Contribution of TCR Signaling Strength to CD8+ T Cell Peripheral Tolerance Mechanisms

Peripheral tolerance mechanisms are in place to prevent T cells from mediating aberrant immune responses directed against self and environmental Ags. Mechanisms involved in the induction of peripheral tolerance include T cell-intrinsic pathways, such as anergy or deletion, or exogenous tolerance mediated by regulatory T cells. We have previously shown that the density of peptide-MHC class I recognized by the TCR determines whether CD8(+) T cells undergo anergy or deletion. Specifically, using a TCR-transgenic CD8(+) T cell model, we demonstrated that persistent peripheral exposure to low- or high-dose peptides in the absence of inflammatory signals resulted in clonal deletion or anergy of the T cell, respectively. In this study, by altering the affinity of the peptide-MHC tolerogen for TCR, we have confirmed that this mechanism is dependent on the level of TCR signaling that the CD8(+) T cell receives. Using altered peptide ligands (APLs) displaying high TCR affinities, we show that increasing the TCR signaling favors anergy induction. Conversely, using APLs displaying a decreased TCR affinity tilted our system in the direction of deletional tolerance. We demonstrate how differential peripheral CD8(+) T cell tolerance mechanisms are controlled by both the potency and density of MHC class I-peptide tolerogen.
The Fermilab Large Cold Blackbody Test Stand for CMB R&D

The Fermilab Large Cold Blackbody Test Stand can be used to expose a microwave receiver and horn assembly to a large blackbody at cryogenic temperatures (as low as 20 K). The temperature of the blackbody can be varied while keeping the receiver temperature constant, facilitating Y-factor measurements of the receiver noise temperature and gain. The test stand has recently been used for studying a QUIET-I receiver module. The test stand will be used to measure both QUIET-I and prototype QUIET-II modules.
Algebraic Denotational Semantics Using Parameterized Abstract Modules

This paper describes a method for giving structured algebraic denotational definitions of programming language semantics. The basic idea is to use parameterized abstract data types to construct a directed acyclic graph of modules, such that each module corresponds to some feature of the language. A "feature" in this sense is sometimes a syntactic construction, and is sometimes a more basic language design decision. Our definitions are written in the executable algebraic specification language OBJT. Among the advantages of our approach are the following: it is relatively easier to understand the definitions because they are organized into modules and use flexible user-definable syntax; it is also relatively easy to modify or to extend the definitions, not only because of the modularity, but also because of the use of parameterization; it is possible to debug the definitions by executing test cases, which in this case are programs; the definitions are relatively compact; and they impose relatively little implementation bias. This paper illustrates these points with the definition of a modest programming language with integer and boolean expressions, blocks, iteration, conditional, input and output, and side-effect-only procedures, which can be assigned to variables and passed as parameters.
Remediation of polychlorinated biphenyl contaminated soils/sediments by supercritical fluid extraction

Studies of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) desorption from soils have been conducted in a laboratory scale supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) unit to provide information for soil remediation. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of SFE as a promising technology for the clean up of PCB contaminated soils/sediments. After 30 minutes of extraction at 40°C and 100 atm, more than 86% ofPCBs in real world Hudson River sediment and 92% in St. Lawrence River sediment were removed. The extraction of PCBs from spiked samples showed even higher efficiencies. Various effects such as temperature, pressure, cosolvent, sample water content, and soil/sediment type on PCB desorption have been investigated. The sample water content and the presence of co-solvent were shown to be the most important factors affecting desorption of PCBs. The results show that PCBs in real world samples are more tightly bound than in spiked samples. The desorption behavior of individual PCB congeners in various samples has been investigated. The results demonstrate no relative accumulation of the most environmentally threatening PCB congeners throughout the extraction process.
Personal space regulation by the human amygdala

The amygdala plays key roles in emotion and social cognition, but how this translates to face-to-face interactions involving real people remains unknown. We found that an individual with complete amygdala lesions lacked any sense of personal space. Furthermore, healthy individuals showed amygdala activation upon close personal proximity. The amygdala may be required to trigger the strong emotional reactions normally following personal space violations, thus regulating interpersonal distance in humans.
DISRUPTION OF WEED BIOLOGICAL CONTROL BY AN OPPORTUNISTIC MIRID PREDATOR

Species cascades involving generalist predators, biological control herbivores, and invasive plants have great potential to disrupt weed biological control efforts and the ability of herbivores to limit plant invasions. We found that Plagiognathus politis, a mirid bug typically reported as herbivorous and as an agricultural pest, was an avid opportunistic predator of Galerucella calmariensis, an herbivore introduced to North America for biological control of Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife). In field cages, adult and immature mirid bugs consumed large numbers of eggs and young larvae of G. calmariensis in addition to feeding on purple loosestrife leaves. We document a species cascade that benefited purple loosestrife; in mesocosms, mirid predation on G. calmariensis allowed purple loosestrife to maintain greater leaf, stem, and reproductive biomass than without predators. In field cages, however, top-down effects were weaker, probably because G. calmariensis had a temporal refuge from predation. An ...
A posteriori discontinuous finite element error estimation for two-dimensional hyperbolic problems

Abstract We analyze the discontinuous finite element errors associated with p-degree solutions for two-dimensional first-order hyperbolic problems. We show that the error on each element can be split into a dominant and less dominant component and that the leading part is O(hp+1) and is spanned by two (p+1)-degree Radau polynomials in the x and y directions, respectively. We show that the p-degree discontinuous finite element solution is superconvergent at Radau points obtained as a tensor product of the roots of (p+1)-degree Radau polynomial. For a linear model problem, the p-degree discontinuous Galerkin solution flux exhibits a strong O(h2p+2) local superconvergence on average at the element outflow boundary. We further establish an O(h2p+1) global superconvergence for the solution flux at the outflow boundary of the domain. These results are used to construct simple, efficient and asymptotically correct a posteriori finite element error estimates for multi-dimensional first-order hyperbolic problems in regions where solutions are smooth.
A Determination of the Gamma-ray Flux and Photon Spectral Index Distributions of Blazars from the Fermi-LAT 3LAC

We present a determination of the distributions of gamma-ray photon flux -- the so called LogN-LogS relation -- and photon spectral index for blazars, based on the third extragalactic source catalog of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope's Large Area Telescope, and considering the photon energy range from 100 MeV to 100 GeV. The dataset consists of the 774 blazars in the so-called "Clean" sample detected with a greater than approximately seven sigma detection threshold and located above $\pm$20 deg Galactic latitude. We use non-parametric methods verified in previous works to reconstruct the intrinsic distributions from the observed ones which account for the data truncations introduced by observational bias and includes the effects of the possible correlation between the flux and photon index. The intrinsic flux distribution can be represented by a broken power law with a high flux power-law index of -2.43$\pm$0.08 and a low flux power-law index of -1.87$\pm$0.10. The intrinsic photon index distribution can be represented by a Gaussian with mean of 2.62$\pm$0.05 and width of 0.17$\pm$0.02. We also report the intrinsic distributions for the sub-populations of BL Lac and FSRQ type blazars separately and these differ substantially. We then estimate the contribution of FSRQs and BL Lacs to the diffuse extragalactic gamma-ray background radiation. Under the simplistic assumption that the flux distributions probed in this analysis continue to arbitrary low flux, we calculate that the best fit contribution of FSRQs is 35% and BL Lacs 17% of the total gamma-ray output of the Universe in this energy range.
Analogy between micropolar continuum and grid frameworks under initial stress

Abstract It is shown that the micropolar medium is a continuum approximation to large grid frameworks under initial axial forces. The strain energy, equilibrium conditions and boundary conditions are formulated, and some inconsistencies in the previous attempts of derivation of the micropolar analogy for gridworks are pointed out. The finite difference method, which is one possible means for the analysis of the overall behavior of a large framework, is investigated and found, by means of numerical examples, to give rather accurate results using much fewer unknowns than the exact analysis. The method is also applicable to problems of overall buckling. It is shown further that the so-called substitute frame in general does not exist, although the finite difference method serves the same purpose. Finally, it is demonstrated that in micropolar continua there exist certain boundary disturbances which rapidly decay with distance from the boundary. A simplified treatment of such disturbances is proposed.
Fabrication of Biaxially Oriented YBCO on (00 l ) Biaxially Oriented Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia on Polycrystalline Substrates

Ion-assisted, ion-beam sputter deposition is used to obtain (00l) biaxially oriented films of cubic yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) on polycrystalline metal substrates. Yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBCO) is then heteroepitaxially-pulse-laser deposited onto the YSZ. Phi scans of the films show the full-width-half maxima of the YSZ (202) and the YBCO(103) reflections to be 14{degree} and 10{degree} respectively. Our best dc transport critical current density measurement for the YBCO is 800,000 A/cm{sup 2} at 75K and 0T. At 75K, the total dc transport current in a 1 cm wide YBCO film is 23 A.
Energy-aware deterministic fault tolerance in distributed real-time embedded systems

We investigate a unified approach for fault tolerance and dynamic power management in distributed real-time embedded systems. Coordinated checkpointing is used to achieve fault tolerance, and power management is carried out using dynamic voltage scaling. We present feasibility-of-scheduling tests for coordinated checkpointing schemes for a constant processor speed as well as for DVS-enabled processors that can operate at variable speeds. Simulation results based on the CORDS hardware/software co-synthesis system show that, compared to fault-oblivious methods, the proposed approach significantly reduces power consumption while guaranteeing timely task completion in the presence of faults.
Boredom as related to alienation, assertiveness, internal‐external expectancy, and sleep patterns

The validity of a newly developed Boredom Proneness Scale (Farmer & Sundberg, 1986) was studied by relating alienation, as measured by Gould's Manifest Alienation Measure, internal-external control, as measured by Rotter's I-E scale, assertiveness, as measured by the College Self-Expression Scale, and sleep patterns to susceptibility to boredom. The significant positive relationship between boredom and alienation and the significant negative relationship between boredom and assertiveness supported the scale's validity. Only for females was there a significant relationship between amount of sleep and boredom. Some indication of greater boredom in males as compared to females also was found.
Effects of leaf hydrophobicity and water droplet retention on canopy storage capacity

Canopy storage capacity is influenced by several variables, including canopy surface area, canopy architecture, and wind. Different species with the same canopy area, but with differences in leaf hydrophobicity and water droplet retention, may produce different values of canopy storage capacity. The objective of this study was to investigate if leaf hydrophobicity and water droplet retention are additional influences on canopy storage capacity. Specifically, this study tested the hypothesis that species with the highest leaf hydrophobicity and the lowest water droplet retention had the lowest canopy storage capacity on a per leaf area basis. Seven tree species from Colorado, United States were selected for experimentation. Five branches from each species were lopped, positioned under a rainfall simulator, and connected to a balance to record the mass gain of the branches by rainfall interception during 17 min of rainfall simulation. Each branch was destructively sampled following rainfall simulation to calculate the leaf and woody surface areas. The rank order of leaf surface storages at canopy storage capacity for each species corresponded to the rank order of leaf hydrophobicity and water droplet retention for each species. Species with the highest leaf surface storage had the lowest leaf hydrophobicity and the lowest water droplet retention. The significance of leaf hydrophobicity and water droplet retention as variables that influence canopy storage capacity is a largely unexplored topic in ecohydrology. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Partially Ordered Banach Spaces

The theory of classical Banach spaces rests solidly on a foundation of partially ordered Banach spaces. In particular, Banach lattices play a key role in its development. In this chapter we present the results from partially ordered Banach spaces which are relevant to this development. (See [43], [197] and [256] for a more general treatment.)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Couples and Families: A Comprehensive Guide for Clinicians

Frank M. Dattilio, New York: Guilford Press, 2010., 282 pages. ISBN: 978-1-60623-453-2 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Couples and Families is a helpful and accessible resource that guides clinic...
The effect of micrite content on the acoustic velocity of carbonate rocks

ABSTRACTWe have demonstrated the effect of micrite content on the acoustic properties of well-controlled microstructures that are created in the laboratory to closely mimic those of carbonate rocks. In particular, we examined the effect of micrite content on the acoustic velocity, sensitivity of velocity to pressure, and changes in velocity resulting from dissolution upon saturation with a reactive fluid. We followed Dunham’s classification and fabricated the samples by mixing coarse (sand-sized) and very fine (micrite-sized) calcite grains in different ratios and then cold compressing the mixture. The acoustic velocities were measured under benchtop conditions and as functions of confining pressure before and after the injection of a CO2 aqueous solution. The benchtop measurements indicated that the addition of micrite made the frame of the carbonate samples stiffer. Because the sensitivity of velocity to pressure decreases as the content of micrite increases, we hypothesized a stiffer pore structure in ...
Current Year Tax Laws that Cause Low Visibility of an Individual's Effective Marginal Tax Rate

More than five years ago, the Joint Committee on Taxation released a report identifying phase-outs, limitations, and floors in the code that can cause an individual's effective marginal tax rate (MTR) to be higher than their statutory tax rate (that is, tax rate for their highest taxable income bracket). This variance occurs because the identified provisions reduce the deductions, credits, and other tax benefits to which taxpayers are otherwise entitled, thus increasing MTRs without modifying the published tax rate schedules. The JCT report estimated that these provisions affect one out of four individual taxpayers. The heart of the JCT report is a table that lists the provisions, displays the income range over which each provision occurs, and contains formulas to determine MTRs applicable to each provision. Many significant changes have occurred to the provisions in this table over the last five years. This article updates the 1998 table to the 2003 tax year and reorganizes it according to type of taxpayer. It also summarizes some academic research on taxpayers' decisions when their MTRs and statutory tax rates differ and the implications of this research to tax policy makers. It concludes with three examples illustrating how to use the formulas in the 2003 table to quickly compute MTRs.
Radar channel balancing with commutation

When multiple channels are employed in a pulse-Doppler radar, achieving and maintaining balance between the channels is problematic. In some circumstances the channels may be commutated to achieve adequate balance. Commutation is the switching, trading, toggling, or multiplexing of the channels between signal paths. Commutation allows modulating the imbalance energy away from the balanced energy in Doppler, where it can be mitigated with filtering.
Molecular weights of wheat γ2-, β6-, α7-, α8- and α9-gliadins

Abstract The molecular weights of wheat γ 2 -, β6-, α7-, α8- and α9-gliadins were calculated with the aid of a computer technique from sedimentation equilibrium data obtained in an ultracentrifuge equipped with photoelectric scanner. The dissociative solvents, all at pH 3.1 by addition of HCl, included 3 M urea, 0.15 M KCl; 8 M urea, 0.15 M KCl and 6 M guanidine-HCl. The minimum molecular weights for γ 2 -, α7- and α9-gliadins, obtained in 6 M guanidine-HCl, were 34 600, 30 400 and 30 900, respectively. The β6- and α8-gliadins gave minimum molecular weights of 33 000 and 36 900, respectively, in 3 M urea, 0.15 M KCl.
Characterization of Laminin Binding Integrin Internalization in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Laminin binding integrins α6 (CD49f) and α3 (CD49c) are persistently but differentially expressed in prostate cancer (PCa). Integrin internalization is an important determinant of their cell surface expression and function. Using flow cytometry, and first order kinetic modeling, we quantitated the intrinsic internalization rates of integrin subunits in a single cycle of internalization. In PCa cell line DU145, α6 integrin internalized with a rate constant (kactual ) of 3.25 min-1 , threefold faster than α3 integrin (1.0 min-1 ), 1.5-fold faster than the vitronectin binding αv integrin (CD51) (2.2 min-1 ), and significantly slower than the unrelated transferrin receptor (CD71) (15 min-1 ). Silencing of α3 integrin protein expression in DU145, PC3, and PC3B1 cells resulted in up to a 1.71-fold increase in kactual for α6 integrin. The internalized α6 integrin was targeted to early endosomes but not to lamp1 vesicles. Depletion of α3 integrin expression resulted in redistribution of α6β4 integrin to an observed cell-cell staining pattern that is consistent with a suprabasal distribution observed in epidermis and early PIN lesions in PCa. Depletion of α3 integrin increased cell migration by 1.8-fold, which was dependent on α6β1 integrin. Silencing of α6 integrin expression however, had no significant effect on the kactual of α3 integrin or its distribution in early endosomes. These results indicate that α3 and α6 integrins have significantly different internalization kinetics and that coordination exists between them for internalization. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1038-1049, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HCV, Alcohol, and the Liver

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection together account for the greatest causes of liver disease in patients worldwide. It is estimated that about 140 million and 170 million individuals worldwide suffer from alcohol dependence or chronic HCV infection respectively. ALD and HCV infection, independently, if not treated properly can progress to advanced liver disease including fibrosis, cirrhosis and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their synergism, however, has been shown to dramatically exacerbate the rapid progression of liver disease to HCC. Several molecular mechanisms representing synergistic interactions of HCV and alcohol that accelerate the progression of liver disease have been identified including immune, metabolic, oxidative stress, proteomic and epigenetic modulations of target host systems. In this review, we summarize current advances in understanding of the various molecular cellular mechanisms by which HCV synergizes with alcohol to advance liver disease. Given the limited treatments available for HCV-infected patients who use alcohol, we also highlight new therapeutic targets and areas where more research would enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease. At this point in time, we recommend that HCV-infected patients should abstain from drinking alcohol and that those who abuse alcohol should be encouraged to stop alcohol use and be tested for HCV infection.
Does a rat release a soaked conspecific due to empathy

In Experiment 1, rats choosing in an E maze preferred to release a rat standing in a pool of water to dry ground over a rat already standing on dry ground. Five additional experiments showed that the choosing rat's preference for releasing the wet rat was maintained by two separable outcomes: (1) the social contact offered by the released rat and (2) the reinforcing value of proximity to a pool of water. These results call into question Sato et al.'s (Anim Cogn 18:1039-1047, 2015) claim to have demonstrated that a rat's releasing of a wet rat to dry ground is empathically motivated.
Harvest rate of reconfigurable pipelines

Yield analysis for reconfigurable structures is often difficult, due to the defect distribution and irregularity of reconfiguration algorithms. In this paper, the authors give a method to analyze the yield of reconfigurable pipelines for the following model: Given n pipelines with m stages, where each stage of a pipeline is defective with constant probability and spare wires are provided for reconfiguration, the authors calculate the expected percentage of pipelines they can harvest after reconfiguration. By modeling the 'shifting' reconfiguration as weighted chains in a lattice and applying poset theory, they give upper and lower bounds for the harvest rate as a function of m and n. >
Epigenetics meets metabolism through PHB-mediated histone H3.3 deposition by HIRA.

The regulation of chromatin, the histone-mediated packaged form of DNA in the eukaryotic nucleus, underlies the epigenetic control of gene expression (1). Epigenetic regulators include DNA and histone modifying enzymes, proteins that specifically target native or modified DNA and histones, non-coding RNA molecules and histone chaperone and ATP-dependent remodeling complexes that deposit, move or evict canonical or variant histones. While the mode of chromatin targeting of many epigenetic factors has been delineated (2), the mechanism of histone chaperone complex recruitment for specific histone deposition is not understood. One such histone chaperone complex contains the proteins HIRA, Ubinuclein-1 (UBN1), CABIN1 and transiently associated ASF1 to deposit the histone H3.3 variant at the promoters of active and poised genes, bodies of active genes, developmental genes, active enhancers and sites of DNA and chromatin damage and repair (3) ( Figure 1 ).
Human Brain Imaging of Opioid Receptors: Application to CNS Biomarker and Drug Development

Abstract Medications acting on central nervous system (CNS) opioid receptors (ORs) continue to be prevalent in the worldwide market of analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain. However, the discovery, development, and attainment of regulatory approval of novel, safe, and effective medications and formulations for this indication, which lack abuse potential, have been extremely difficult. To advance proof-of-concept studies determining receptor occupancy mechanisms of action and appropriate dosing, pharmacokinetics, and targeted pharmacodynamics for which candidate medications are being tested, it is possible in healthy human volunteers and patient populations to conduct nuclear imaging, such as quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of major OR types (mu (μ), delta (δ), and kappa (κ)) in the CNS. This review discusses the emerging opportunities enabled by these brain imaging tools, with examples of studies utilizing PET radiotracers, to identify drug targets and biomarkers in order to accelerate drug discovery and development, and to further the understanding of the role of CNS ORs in the areas of pain and substance use disorder treatment research.
Zap Q-Learning

The Zap Q-learning algorithm introduced in this paper is an improvement of Watkins' original algorithm and recent competitors in several respects. It is a matrix-gain algorithm designed so that its asymptotic variance is optimal. Moreover, an ODE analysis suggests that the transient behavior is a close match to a deterministic Newton-Raphson implementation. This is made possible by a two time-scale update equation for the matrix gain sequence. The analysis suggests that the approach will lead to stable and efficient computation even for non-ideal parameterized settings. Numerical experiments confirm the quick convergence, even in such non-ideal cases.
Soft extrapolation of bandlimited functions

Soft extrapolation refers to the problem of recovering a function from its samples multiplied by a fast-decaying window — in this note a narrow Gaussian. The question is akin to deconvolution, but leverages smoothness of the function in order to achieve stable recovery over an interval potentially larger than the essential support of the window. In case the function is bandlimited, we provide an error bound for extrapolation by a least-squares polynomial fit of a well-chosen degree: it is (morally) proportional to a fractional power of the perturbation level, which goes from 1 near the available samples, to 0 when the extrapolation distance reaches the characteristic smoothness length scale of the function. This bound is minimax in the sense that no algorithm can yield a meaningfully lower error over the same smoothness class. The result in this note can be put in the context of blind superresolution, where it corresponds to the limit of a single spike corrupted by a compactly-supported blur.
Fostering Heroism in Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Students:

This study empirically evaluated the potential effect of a training program created by The Hero Construction Company designed to foster heroism in children. The presentation was geared toward encou...
Parametric study for asymmetric flexure hinge design for tissue cutting

This article presents empirical stiffness equations for a novel compliant needle mechanism that will aid in ultrasonic tissue cutting. Needles are an often used medical tool that cut tissue with mi...
Preliminary study on the biological traits of the Por’s goatfish Upeneus pori (Chordata: Actinopterygii) off the southern coast of Lampedusa Island (Central Mediterranean)

AbstractOne hundred and six specimens of the Por’s goatfish, Upeneus pori Ben-Tuvia & Golani (1989), a Lessepsian species native to the Western Indian Ocean, were collected from bottom trawlers’ ca...