cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Top Quark Mass Measurements at CDF

Recent measurements of the mass of the top quark are presented using 162 pb-1 of data of ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV collected by the CDF detector at the Tevatron collider during Run II. The analyses focus on the semi-leptonic decay mode with one or two identified bottom quarks. The Template Method reconstructs the invariant mass of the top quark in each event. The Multivariate Template Method enhances this approach by adding information on the event topology. The Dynamical Likelihood Method discriminates between possible mass values using top quark decay observables and attempts to use the maximum amount of information on top quarks provided by the Standard Model. All three methods produce similar results. The Dynamical Likelihood Method yields a top quark mass of 177.8+-4.5/5.0(stat)+-6.2(sys)GeV/c^2.
Non-Adaptive Matroid Prophet Inequalities.

We investigate non-adaptive algorithms for matroid prophet inequalities. Matroid prophet inequalities have been considered resolved since 2012 when [KW12] introduced thresholds that guarantee a tight 2-approximation to the prophet; however, this algorithm is adaptive. Other approaches of [CHMS10] and [FSZ16] have used non-adaptive thresholds with a feasibility restriction; however, this translates to adaptively changing an item's threshold to infinity when it cannot be taken with respect to the additional feasibility constraint, hence the algorithm is not truly non-adaptive. A major application of prophet inequalities is in auction design, where non-adaptive prices possess a significant advantage: they convert to order-oblivious posted pricings, and are essential for translating a prophet inequality into a truthful mechanism for multi-dimensional buyers. The existing matroid prophet inequalities do not suffice for this application. We present the first non-adaptive constant-factor prophet inequality for graphic matroids.
iCAT: diagnostic assessment tool of immunological history using high-throughput T-cell receptor sequencing

The pathogen exposure history of an individual is recorded in their T-cell repertoire and can be accessed through the study of T-cell receptors (TCRs) if the tools to identify them were available. For each T-cell, the TCR loci undergoes genetic rearrangement that creates a unique DNA sequence. In theory these unique sequences can be used as biomarkers for tracking T-cell responses and cataloging immunological history. We developed the immune Cell Analysis Tool (iCAT), an R software package that analyzes TCR sequencing data from exposed (positive) and unexposed (negative) samples to identify TCR sequences statistically associated with positive samples. The presence and absence of associated sequences in samples trains a classifier to diagnose pathogen-specific exposure. We demonstrate the high accuracy of iCAT by testing on three TCR sequencing datasets. First, iCAT successfully diagnosed smallpox vaccinated versus naive samples in an independent cohort of mice with 95% accuracy. Second, iCAT displayed 100% accuracy classifying naive and monkeypox vaccinated mice. Finally, we demonstrate the use of iCAT on human samples before and after exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 global pandemic. We were able to correctly classify the exposed samples with perfect accuracy. These experimental results show that iCAT capitalizes on the power of TCR sequencing to simplify infection diagnostics. iCAT provides the option of a graphical, user-friendly interface on top of usual R interface allowing it to reach a wider audience.
Proteomic analysis of COVID-19 plasma reveals dysregulated trem-1, I-17, and tumor microenvironment pathways associated with disease severity

Rationale: To utilize high-dimensional proteomic data to identify dysregulated pathways that are associated with COVID-19 disease severity and suggest potential therapeutic targets. Methods: We enrolled 161 COVID-19 inpatients admitted at two tertiary care hospitals. Plasma samples collected within 48 hours of admission were analyzed with the Olink Proximity Extension Assay;713 unique proteins were assayed. The WHO COVID-19 ordinal severity scale at enrollment was dichotomized into moderate (levels 3-4) and severe (levels 5-7). Normalized protein expression (NPX) values were generated in relation to a common pooled control plasma on each plate. The association between NPX values and disease severity on admission was estimated with logistic regression (LR) after adjustment for age, sex, race, and select comorbidities. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was employed after application of the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure with a false discovery rate of 5% to all proteins for which the NPX difference was +/-0.8 between groups. Predictive models of disease severity on hospital day 7 using all proteins as potential features were fit using elastic net LR (ENLR) and gradient boosting (GBM). Performance was estimated on a held-out test set (40% of the data) with area under the receiveroperator characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: Of 161 subjects, 85 (53%) were classified as having severe COVID-19. A total of 552 proteins were differentially expressed (Figure 1), and 31 of these proteins met criteria for inclusion in pathway analysis. IPA identified the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) signaling pathway (4 members, p=3.8E-3), the tumor microenvironment (TME) pathway (5 members, p=4.1E-3), and the interleukin 17 (IL-17) signaling pathway (4 members, p=1.8E-2). Interleukin 1 receptor-like 1, a member of the TREM-1 pathway, was the protein most associated with disease severity (OR=3.18, p=1.82E-08). Tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 11 (TNFSF11), a member of the IL-17 signaling pathway was the only factor whose enrichment was associated with less severe disease (OR=0.39, p=2.3E-05). ENLR and GBM predicted disease severity on day 7 with AUROC values of 0.908 (0.828, 0.968) and 0.882 (0.788, 0.957), respectively. Conclusion: We identified pathways differentially expressed between patients with severe and nonsevere COVID-19 associated with immune function and angiogenesis. Several agents currently being investigated to treat severe COVID-19 act on these dysregulated pathways, and future investigations could test whether these proteins act as enrichment markers or response indicators. Integrating protein expression with cellular immune phenotype may help explain COVID-19 pathophysiology.
Creation of a Pediatric Choledocholithiasis Prediction Model.

Background Definitive non-invasive detection of pediatric choledocholithiasis could allow more efficient identification of those patients who are most likely to benefit from therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for stone extraction. Objective To craft a pediatric choledocholithiasis prediction model using a combination of commonly available serum laboratory values and ultrasound results. Methods A retrospective review of laboratory and imaging results from 316 pediatric patients who underwent intraoperative cholangiogram or ERCP due to suspicion of choledocholithiasis were collected and compared to presence of common bile duct stones on cholangiography. Multivariate logistic regression with supervised machine learning was used to create a predictive scoring model. Monte-Carlo cross-validation was used to validate the scoring model and a score threshold that would provide at least 90% specificity for choledocholithiasis was determined in an effort to minimize non-therapeutic ERCP. Results Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and common bile duct diameter via ultrasound were found to be the key clinical variables to determine the likelihood of choledocholithiasis. The dictated specificity threshold of 90.3% yielded a sensitivity of 40.8% and overall accuracy of 71.5% in detecting choledocholithiasis. Positive predictive value was 71.4% and negative predictive value was 72.1%. Conclusion Our novel pediatric choledocholithiasis predictive model is a highly specific tool to suggest ERCP in the setting of likely choledocholithiasis.
Amebiasis

More than 80% of cases of amebic liver abscess can be managed with a 14-day course of intravenous or oral metronidazole. In cases of suspected amebic liver abscess, treatment should be started before diagnostic confirmation. If no clinical improvement is evident by 72 to 96 hours, treatment should be changed to dehydroemetine and chloroquine. Invasive treatment is necessary only in patients in whom medical treatment fails within 5 days or in whom signs of clinically severe disease are present. A 10-day course with a luminal agent such as paromomycin to eliminate intestinal cysts, which are resistant to imidazoles, should always follow treatment of the liver abscess. Percutaneous catheter drainage is indicated in patients with impending rupture, with a lesion 6 cm or more in diameter, with an abscess located in the left lobe or high in the dome of the right lobe, or in whom medical treatment fails. Although sympathetic pleural effusion is not an indication for drainage, direct pulmonary involvement or spread to pleural or lung tissues requires drainage. Intraperitoneal rupture and peritonitis necessitate open surgical drainage. Only a small minority of amebic liver abscesses are secondarily infected by other organisms. Because relapses are possible, feces should be checked for cysts monthly for several months after therapy.
The development and validation of a teacher education digital literacy and digital pedagogy evaluation

K-12 educators’ digital literacy skills have been designated as a national and state priority by education and accreditation agencies in Texas, resulting in the need for curriculum alignments to th...
Measurement of glomerular filtration rate reveals that subcapsular injection of shear-thinning hyaluronic acid hydrogels does not impair kidney function in mice.

The continued development of minimally invasive therapeutic implants, such as injectable hydrogels, necessitates the concurrent advancement of methods to best assess their biocompatibility via functional outcomes in vivo. Biomaterial implants have been studied to treat kidney disease; however, assessment of biocompatibility has been limited to biomarker and histological assessments. Techniques now exist to measure kidney function serially in vivo in murine studies via transcutaneous measurements of glomerular filtration rate (tGFR). In this study, adult male and female wild-type BalbC mice underwent right unilateral nephrectomy. The remaining solitary left kidney was allowed 4 weeks to recover via compensatory hypertrophy, after which subcapsular injection of either saline or shear-thinning hyaluronic acid hydrogel was performed. Serial tGFR measurements before and after treatment were used to assess the effect of hydrogel injection on kidney filtration. Urine and serum biomarkers of kidney function, and kidney histology were also quantified. Hydrogel injection did not affect kidney function, as assessed by tGFR. Results were in agreement with standard metrics of serum and urine biomarkers of injury as well as histological assessment of inflammation. The model developed provides a direct functional assessment of implant compatibility for the treatment of kidney disease and impact on kidney function.
A production model construction system

Abstract The first three generations of software for mathematical programming were (1) coding of the simplex algorithm, (2) matrix generation programs, and (3) modeling languages. The fourth generation will provide improved knowledge-based and graphical interfaces to permit modeling by users who have little familiarity with mathematical programming, viz. Krishnan (1988) which is the focus of this paper. Since many economists and management scientists have experience with production and distribution modeling but limited familiarity as yet with knowledge-based systems and logic programming, a series of papers have been prepared to elucidate the elements of Krishnan's system to this community. This paper, the second in the series, covers a part of the model construction system.
Dissipation in the Flowing Saturated Superfluid Film

The flow of the saturated helium II film through an inverted U-tube connecting two reservoirs of bulk liquid has been measured with significantly improved precision over previously reported work1 to provide a direct experimental determination of the intrinsic dissipation in the film as a function of velocity and temperature.
Studies of criteria for classification of arterial hypertension: V. Types of hypertension associated with the presence of posterior pituitary substance

Abstract Hypertension in rats was produced by giving a single, large dose of pitressin, a single, small dose of pitressin, together with fluid by mouth, and repeated, small doses of pitressin. In the three forms of hypertension, the blood volume was, respectively, low, high, and normal. A biologic test for an antidiuretic substance in the serum of patients is described. This test was positive in certain cases of high blood pressure. Such patients usually have increased minute vessel pressure, about 50 per cent have increased cutaneous lymphatic flow, and some have papilledema. The blood volume may be normal or increased. In such cases the test may become negative after pituitary irradiation, with, usually, some clinical improvement and a variable effect on blood pressure. The test is not specific for posterior pituitary hyperactivity, but, when it is positive in a particular case, it may serve as a measure of the effect of pituitary irradiation. If it subsequently becomes negative, the inference is that the pituitary was at fault.
Quality of approximation in error transfer function analysis of the LMS adaptive filters

This paper defines how the quality of approximation used in the error transfer function analysis affects the accuracy of the resulting steady-state mean square error (MSE) of the least-mean-square (LMS) adaptive filters. It shows that the error transfer function approach is very accurate for extremely narrow bandwidth input signals, and it deteriorates as the bandwidth of the input signal increases.
Barbara Shinn-Cunningham

An interview with Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, who studies auditory attention and variations in hearing ability in healthy adults and those suffering hearing loss and other challenges.
Hamstringing State Agency Authority to Promulgate Rules: A Questionable Way to Improve Environmental Regulation

Florida's Administrative Procedure Act was revised in 1996 and 1999 to impose stringent restrictions on agency authority to promulgate regulations. This Article analyzes the amendments and concludes that their ramifications are far reaching and adverse. In addition to hindering the ability of agencies to promulgate regulations, the Florida APA amendments will make environmental regulation less flexible. They also risk damaging the already fagile relationship between the federal Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators. It is concluded that reformers' claim to improving the accountability of agency regulations by the means of hamstringing agency authority to promulgate rules is highly questionable.
Avian influenza and the poultry trade

Because of high mortality rates, high rates of contagion, and the possibility of cross-species infection to mammals including humans, high pathogenic avian influenza is a major concern both to consumers and producers of poultry. The implications of the avian influenza for international poultry markets are large and include the loss of consumer confidence, loss of competitiveness, loss of market shares, supply shortages, and disruptions of trade flows. This paper illustrates the effect that high pathogenic avian influenza has had on the trade flows of poultry products. The findings suggest that outbreaks of avian influenza have greatly restructured the international flow of poultry products. Consequent to high pathogenic avian influenze, Brazil has emerged as the world's largest supplier of frozen raw chicken products, while poultry industries in Southeast Asia have largely refocused their export markets by converting production from unprepared to prepared poultry meat.
A new protocol for efficient bandwidth distribution in integrated service networks

IEEE 802.5 token ring standard has been widely used in integrated service networks. Due to the nature of messages, preferences are usually given to voice packets in most implementations of 802.5 standard. Although such an approach is reasonable, it results in ill network resources utilization and inefficient bandwidth distributions among data and voice stations. The authors present a new protocol based on IEEE 802.5 standard that efficiently distributes the network bandwidth between data and voice stations. The results of simulation show that the new protocol achieves the peak data delay improvement when voice traffic is about half of the full load, and achieve none or little data delay improvement when voice traffic is heavy. In other words, the new protocol exploits a better utilization of network resources. >
Uncertainty and psychological adjustment in patients with lung cancer.

Background For many patients with lung cancer, disease progression occurs without notice or with vague symptoms, and unfortunately, most treatments are not curative. Given this unpredictability, we hypothesized the following: (1) poorer psychological adjustment (specifically, more depressive symptoms, higher perceptions of stress, and poorer emotional well-being) would be associated with higher intolerance for uncertainty, higher perceived illness-related ambiguity, and their interaction; and (2) greater avoidance would mediate associations between higher intolerance of uncertainty and poorer psychological adjustment. Methods Participants (N = 49) diagnosed with lung cancer at least 6 months prior to enrollment completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Lung Emotional Well-being subscale, the Perceived Stress scale, the Intolerance of Uncertainty scale, the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale Ambiguity subscale, the Impact of Event – Revised Avoidance subscale, and the Short-scale Eysenck Personality Questionnaire – Revised Neuroticism subscale. Mean age was 64.2 years (standard deviation [SD] = 11.0), mean years of education was 15.6 (SD = 3.1), and 71.4% were female. Hypotheses were tested with regression analyses, adjusted for neuroticism. Results Higher perceptions of stress and poorer emotional well-being were associated with higher levels of intolerance of uncertainty and higher perceived illness-related ambiguity. Non-somatic depressive symptoms were associated with higher levels of intolerance of uncertainty. Avoidance was found to mediate relations of intolerance of uncertainty with non-somatic depressive symptoms and emotional well-being only. Conclusions Findings suggest that interventions to address avoidance and intolerance of uncertainty in individuals with lung cancer may help improve psychological adjustment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phase behavior and modeling of the systems CO2-acetonitrile and CO2-acrylic acid

Abstract Pressure-composition isotherms are obtained for the CO2-acetonitrile (ACN) system at 35, 55, and 75°C and for the CO2-acrylic acid (AA) system at 45, 65, 85, and 100°C. Also a portion of the CO2-AA critical mixture curve is determined near the critical point of pure CO2. These two CO2-polar solute systems have continuous critical mixture curves that exhibit maximums in pressure at temperatures between the critical temperatures of CO2 and AA or ACN. The experimental data are modeled using both the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) and the Peng-Robinson equation of state. The Peng-Robinson equation of state accurately models the pressure-composition isotherms for these two systems only if two temperature-independent mixture parameters are used for each system. In contrast, the SAFT equation with no adjustable mixture parameters gives a reasonable fit the data. A good fit of the data are obtained with SAFT using one adjustable parameter for the CO2-ACN system and two adjustable parameters for the CO2-AA system.
HIV Risk, Partner Violence, and Relationship Power Among Filipino Young Women: Testing a Structural Model

A person's ability to minimize HIV risk is embedded in a complex, multidimensional context. In this study, we tested a model of how relationship power impacts IPV victimization, which in turn impacts HIV risk behaviors. We analyzed data from 474 young adult women (aged 15-31) in Cebu Province, Philippines, using structural equation modeling, and demonstrated good fit for the models. High relationship power is directly associated with increased IPV victimization, and IPV victimization is positively associated with increased HIV risk. We highlight in this article the complex dynamics to consider in HIV risk prevention among these young women.
Cross-priming utilizes antigen not available to the direct presentation pathway

CD8+ T cells play a crucial role in protective immunity to viruses and tumours. Antiviral CD8+ T cells are initially activated by professional antigen presenting cells (pAPCs) that are directly infected by viruses (direct-priming) or following uptake of exogenous antigen transferred from virus-infected or tumour cells (cross-priming). In order to efficiently target each of these antigen-processing pathways during vaccine design, it is necessary to delineate the properties of the natural substrates for either of these antigen-processing pathways. In this study, we utilized a novel T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse to examine the requirement for both antigen synthesis and synthesis of other cellular factors during direct or cross-priming. We found that direct presentation required ongoing synthesis of antigen, but that cross-priming favoured long-lived antigens and did not require ongoing antigen production. Even after prolonged blockade of protein synthesis in the donor cell, cross-priming was unaffected. In contrast, direct-presentation was almost undetectable in the absence of antigen neosynthesis and required ongoing protein synthesis. This suggests that the direct- and cross-priming pathways may utilize differing pools of antigen, an observation that has far-reaching implications for the rational design of vaccines aimed at the generation of protective CD8+ T cells.
A question of DP-2

Abstract The geomagnetic DP-2 variation and its equivalent current system are re-examined using not only ground-based geomagnetic data and interplanetary magnetic field but also radar observations of the electron drift velocity in the equatorial electrojet over Jicamarca, Peru. The Jicamarca observations clearly indicate that the DP-2 electric current direction in low latitudes is questionable and that the whole concept of the DP-2 needs to be reconsidered.
Coupling to light, and transport and dissipation of energy in silver nanowires

Transient absorption experiments with diffraction-limited spatial resolution have been used to study the optical absorption properties and dynamics of isolated, single silver nanowires. The images and polarization analysis show that the near-IR pump and near-UV probe beams couple to fundamentally different electron motions. The near-IR pump laser excites the propagating surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes of the wires when focused at the ends, and multipolar plasmon modes (antenna modes) for medial excitation. The images show that these two modes have comparable optical absorption cross-sections. In contrast, the near-UV probe couples to the transverse plasmon resonance of the wire independent of the spatial position. For either end-on or medial excitation, pump laser absorption causes lattice heating and coherently excites the breathing vibrational mode of the nanowires. The vibrational quality factors depend on the acoustic impedance mismatch between the nanowire and the environment, and are similar to those recently measured for silver nanocubes. Experiments performed with spatially separated pump and probe beams, with the pump beam focused at one end to excite the propagating SPP modes, show that the amplitudes of the initial transient absorption signal and the breathing motion decrease with distance along the wire. This arises because the propagating SPP mode decays as it moves down the wire, which reduces the number of electronic excitations and, therefore, the signal level in the experiments. The measured length scale for the SPP decay is similar to that obtained in previous light scattering experiments.
The p21Rac/Cdc42-activated kinases (PAKs)

The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are mammalian Rac/Cdc42-associated serine/threonine protein kinases. They contain diverse structural regulatory elements that allow them not only to participate as effectors in signaling processes initiated by activated GTPases but also in signal transduction events mediated by Src3 homology domains (SH3) or caspase-mediated proteolytic cleavage. The biological functions of PAK protein kinases result from the interplay of N- and C-terminal-mediated protein-protein interactions and signals derived from phosphorylation of downstream substrates. The potential regulation of microbial killing, stress responses, apoptosis, and cell motility by PAKs suggest it may be a therapeutically useful target in a number of disease states.
The effect of temperature on the inhibition of trout, carp and human red cell hexokinase by triethyltin bromide.

Abstract 1. 1. At temperatures below 20°C, brook and rainbow trout red cell hexokinases demonstrate sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of triethyltin bromide. 2. 2. When the incubation temperature was raised to above 25°C, carp and human red cell enzymes were affected. 3. 3. Arrhenius plots indicated that the ΔH∗ of the reaction was about 11 kcal for the trout enzymes and 40 kcal for the carp and human enzymes. 4. 4. The differential temperature sensitivity of the trout and human enzymes to triethyltin is correlated with the temperature sensitivity of the corresponding red cells toward the hemolytic effect of the reagent.
psi, a plasmid-linked Rhizobium phaseoli gene that inhibits exopolysaccharide production and which is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation

A strain of R. phaseoli cured of its symbiotic plasmid, pRP2JI, retained the ability to make exopolysaccharide (EPS). However, a region of pRP2JI, when cloned at an increased copy number in wide host-range vectors and transferred to this and other strains of Rhizobium, inhibited EPS synthesis. The gene responsible was termed psi (polysaccharide inhibition) and was located in a region of the symbiotic plasmid close to nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes. psi is important in the symbiosis since a wild-type strain containing psi cloned on a multicopy plasmid failed to form Phaseolus nodules, and mutant strains containing psi::Tn5 mutations failed to fix nitrogen in Phaseolus nodules. It is proposed that the function of psi may be to repress in the bacteriod the expression of genes such as those for EPS synthesis which are normally expressed in free-living culture.
Painless aortic dissection presenting as a progressive myelopathy

We report a patient with a painless aortic dissection whose neurologic symptoms progressed over 5 days to a complete transverse myelopathy. She did not experience pain as her neurologic deficits evolved. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thoracic aortic dissection extending from the arch to the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra and demonstrated ischemic changes in the spinal cord and one thoracic vertebral body. Aortic dissection must be included in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord syndromes even in the absence of pain. Early recognition of aortic dissection as a cause of progressive myelopathy may become increasingly important as new therapies for central nervous system ischemia are developed.
The function of cyclic electron transport in photosynthesis

The photosynthetic reduction of 1 mol COZ requires that coupled electron transport supply a minimum of 3 mol ATP and 2 mol NADPH [ 1 ]. While stoichiometries as high as 2 ATP/NADPH have been reported [2], more commonly obtained values indicate a ratio between 1 .O and 1.33 [3]: just short of the minimum required. Two light-dependent processes have been suggested to fulfill the ATP deficiency. One [4] is a ferredoxin-dependent cycle sensitized by photosystem I. The other is a Mehler reaction or pseudocyclic electron flow from Hz0 to O2 via a coupled portion of the electron transport sequence also involved in NADP’ reduction [S]. In this paper, experiments are described which differentiate between cyclic and pseudocyclic phosphorylation, and assess their relative contribution to ATP synthesis in the intact chloroplast.
Construction engineering and project management I: variable-speed resource motion in animations of discrete-event process models

This paper presents research that addresses the problem of describing the accurate, variable-speed motion of simulation objects on realistically-shaped trajectories (i.e. paths) in animations of discrete-event simulation models. The work puts in place techniques that modelers can use to instruct virtual simulation objects to follow any arbitrarily-shaped velocity profiles while adhering to fixed motion completion times when traversing along any defined motion path trajectories. A computation scheme that allows simulation models to define the general shapes of relevant velocity profiles and then heuristically scales those profiles to accommodate communicated activity instance durations is presented. While allowing animated simulation objects to be moved with any arbitrarily shaped velocity profiles, this technique ensures that an object's temporo-spatial control rests entirely with the underlying simulation models.
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF POTASSIUM ON GROWTH AND ASH CONSTITUENTS OF ANANAS COMOSUS (L.) MERR.

The data reported in this paper were obtained from plants grown in nutrient solutions supplied with high or low amounts of potassium, namely 205 or 4 mg. per liter but with equal amounts of either nitrateor ammonium-nitrogen. Tops or crowns (vegetative organs produced at the apex of fruits) of uniform size from a single clone were placed in tap water for one month until they had produced about twenty roots of uniform thickness and length. Fourteen plants were then selected and transferred to each of the nutrient solutions described in table I. Each plant was grown in a 4-gallon porcelain crock containing 17 liters of solution which was constantly aerated and changed regularly at two-week intervals. The plants were grown in these solutions for approximately one year, then all 14 were harvested, weighed, and sectioned according to previously reported techniques (43). The chemical methods employed for the analysis of the tissues were reported in previous publications (39, 40, 41, 42). The statistical significance of the difference of the means of total plant weights between different cultures was calculated by Fisher's method (6, p. 14). However, the method of Conrad (5) together with the ? table of Love (20) was employed for the calculation of the statistical significance of the differences of the means of the various plant constituents between different cultures.
Aromatic polyethers, polysulfones, and polyketones as laminating resins. VII. Polymers with [2.2]‐p‐cyclophane units

1,3-Bis(p-phenoxybenzenesulfonyl)benzene (I), 4,4′-diphenoxy-diphenyl sulfone (II), diphenyl ether, and 3,9-bis(p-phenoxybenzoyl) [2.2]-p-cyclophane were polymerized with isophthaloyl chloride in Friedel-Crafts type polymerization. The polymers obtained, containing 6–8 wt.-% of p-cyclophane units were moderately soluble in HMPA and sulfuric acid with inherent viscosities, between 0.5 and 1.0. The polymers cured at 375°C for 3 days showed little penetration up to 400°C in the Vicat softening curves. Strong molding disks and laminates on glass fiber can be made with excellent thermal stability.
Two-hybrid analysis of Ty3 capsid subdomain interactions

The yeast retrotransposon Ty3 forms stable virus-like particles. Gag3, the major structural protein, is composed of capsid, spacer and nucleocapsid domains. The capsid domain of Gag3 was previously modeled as a structure similar to retrovirus capsid. Two-hybrid analysis was used to understand the interactions that contribute to particle assembly. Gag3 interacted with itself as predicted based on its role as the major structural protein. The N-terminal subdomain (NTD) of the capsid was able to interact with itself and with the C-terminal subdomain (CTD) of the capsid, but interacted less well with intact Gag3. Mutations previously shown to block particle assembly disrupted Gag3 interactions more than subdomain interactions. The findings that the NTD interacts with itself and with the CTD are consistent with previous modeling and a role similar to that of the capsid in retrovirus particle structure. These results are consistent with a model in which the Gag3-Gag3 interactions that initiate assembly differ from the subdomain interactions that potentially underlie particle stability.
On mapping signal processing algorithms to a heterogeneous multiprocessor system

The implementation of signal processing algorithms on a heterogeneous multiprocessor system is examined. The signal processing algorithm, represented as a directed signal flow graph, is mapped to the multiprocessor system for execution. A heuristic scheme aimed at producing a schedule of minimum execution time is proposed. Communication overhead is incorporated in the scheduling. Simulation results are presented using both the proposed heuristic scheme and an optimum scheme based on the branch-and-bound approach. The heuristic results fall within a reasonable range from the optimal schedule. >
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome score and race as predictors of length of stay in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND Identifying predictors of length of stay in the intensive care unit can help critical care clinicians prioritize care in patients with acute, life-threatening injuries. OBJECTIVE To determine if systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores are predictive of length of stay in the intensive care unit in patients with acute, life-threatening injuries. METHODS Retrospective chart reviews were completed on patients with acute, life-threatening injuries admitted to the intensive care unit at a level I trauma center in the southeastern United States. All 246 eligible charts from the trauma registry database from 1998 to 2007 were included. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores measured on admission were correlated with length of stay in the intensive care unit. Data on race, sex, age, smoking status, and injury severity score also were collected. Univariate and multivariate regression modeling was used to analyze data. RESULTS Severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores on admission to the intensive care unit were predictive of length of stay in the unit (F=15.83; P<.001), as was white race (F=9.7; P=.002), and injury severity score (F=20.23; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores can be measured quickly and easily at the bedside. Data support use of the score to predict length of stay in the intensive care unit.
Electrical and electron spin resonance measurements of amorphous hydrogenated carbon nitride

Abstract The electrical conductivity and electron spin resonance spectra of amorphous hydrogenated carbon nitride and amorphous hydrogenated carbon are reported. Both measurements present evidence that the addition of nitrogen significantly decreases the density of dangling bonds, similar to the role of hydrogen in amorphous hudrogenated silicon. These results are also consistent with previously reported optical absorption and photoluminescence measurements.
The leaching of nickeliferous laterite with ferric chloride

Several experiments were conducted to investigate the extraction of nickel from nickeliferous laterite by ferric chloride solutions as a function of pulp density, solution composition, and temperature. Solubility relationships for goethite and nickel laterite in aqueous solution were reviewed in terms of leaching rates and reaction mechanisms. Generally, the amount of nickel extracted increased with temperature, the amount of “free acid,” and ferric chloride concentration; however, the amount was inhibited by ferrous chloride. In this investigation, as much as 96 pct of the available nickel was extracted by ferric chloride solution. Nickel extraction was found to be more dependent on ferric chloride concentration than on the concentration of hydrochloric acid. Mechanistically, nickel extraction occurred by the formation of an intermediate ferric chloride complex, which was then hydrolyzed to hematite.
{sup 13}C-{sup 1}H and {sup 13}C-{sup 13}C spin coupling behavior in aldofuranosyl rings from density functional theory

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations using density functional theory (DFT) have been conducted on the aldopentofuranose, 2-deoxy-{beta}-D-erythro-pentofuranose (1) to evaluate the performance of DFT methodology in structural optimization and NMR spin-spin coupling constant determinations prior to its application in more complex carbohydrate-containing systems. Computed molecular parameters (bond lengths, bond angles, bond torsions) and NMR spin-spin coupling constants (J) in the 10 geometrically optimized envelope forms of 1 are compared to those reported previously from HF/6-31G*-optimized geometries. In earlier work, {sup n}J{sub CH} values were first computed at the HF level using finite-field perturbation theory and a basis set specially designed to economically recover the Fermi-contact contribution to J. Electron correlation effects on the coupling constants were then introduced via second-order Moeller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) calculations. The derived correlation corrections (i.e., the MP2-HF values) were scaled by factors obtained from more elaborate quadratic configuration interaction (QCISD) calculations on related, though necessarily smaller, systems. In the present study, the Fermi-contact components of the J values were computed directly via DFT, presumably recovering the important effects of electron correlation and thus obviating the need for scaling. J{sub CH} values (one-, two-, and three-bond) derived from the DFT treatment are compared to scaled couplings obtained more » previously using HF/MP2 methods. The effect of structural relaxation on J is assessed by direct comparison of HF values for the {sup 13}C-{sup 1}H couplings in both HF- and DFT-optimized geometries. {sup 1}J{sub CC}, {sup 2}J{sub CC}, {sup 3}J{sub CC}, and {sup 2+3}J{sub CC} values are computed (DFT) in 1 as a function of ring conformation for the first time, correlation corrections are evaluated by direct comparison with HF calculations, and new structural interpretations of these couplings are provided. « less
The NSLS VUV undulator: Spectral characteristics and operating experience

The design and operating characteristics of the VUV undulator installed on the NSLS VUV ring are presented. Specifically, the spectral output through three circular on-axis pinholes of different diameters has been measured. Near the minimum magnetic gap (40mm), the flux into a 0.25 mrad circular aperture at the peak of the fundamental (h..nu.. = 57 eV) is approx.1 /times/ 10/sup 14/ photonssec0.1A1%BW. We find good agreement in spectral shape between these measured spectra and spectra calculated by integrating the theoretical undulator emission spectrum over the relevant spatial variables and including electron beam emittance. We also show calculated zero-emittance and on-axis flux spectra for comparison. A description is given of the beam line and monochromator currently installed on this undulator for the purpose of performing spin-resolved photoemission.
Carrier-independent entry of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) into adrenal chromaffin cells as a consequence of charge delocalization

The administration of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) to cultures of adrenal medullary chromaffin cells resulted in time and concentration-dependent increases in the cellular content of MPP+. Co-incubation of cells with MPP+, in the presence of desmethylimipramine (DMI), reduced but did not prevent the accumulation of the pyridinium in these cells. Similarly, DMI and MPP+ co-administration reduced but did not prevent the neurotoxicant-induced release of a cytosolic marker, lactate dehydrogenase, into the media. Molecular orbital calculations reveal that the positive charge of MPP+ is highly delocalized throughout the pyridinium ring and consequently MPP+ may be able to diffuse down concentration or charge gradients. Thus, these data provide a basis for the entry of MPP+ into cells and subcellular organelles that lack a catecholamine transporter, e.g. mitochondria.
Capturing geometry in real-time using a tracked Microsoft Kinect

We investigate the suitability of the Microsoft Kinect device for capturing real-world objects and places. Our new geometry scanning system permits the user to obtain detailed triangle models of non-moving objects with a tracked Kinect. The system generates a texture map for the triangle mesh using video frames from the Kinect's color camera and displays a continually-updated preview of the textured model in real-time, allowing the user to re-scan the scene from any direction to fill holes or increase the texture resolution. We also present filtering methods to maintain a high-quality model of reasonable size by removing overlapping or low-precision range scans. Our approach works well in the presence of degenerate geometry or when closing loops about the scanned subject. We demonstrate the ability of our system to acquire 3D models at human scale with a prototype implementation in the StarCAVE, a virtual reality environment at the University of California, San Diego. We designed the capturing algorithm to support the scanning of large areas, provided that accurate tracking is available.
An automated image‐registration technique based on multiple structure matching

A new image-registration technique that matches multiple structures on complementary imaging data sets (e.g., CT and MRI) has been developed and tested with both phantom and patient data. The algorithm assumes a rigid-body transformation and is suitable for correlating structures within the cranium or at the skull base. The basic premise of the new technique is that an optimum transformation is achieved when the relative volume lying outside of the intersection between a structure and its transformed counterpart is a minimum. This relative volume is calculated numerically using a random sampling approach, and a binary searching algorithm was used to step through the nine-dimensional parameter space consisting of three rotation angles, three scaling factors and three components of a translation vector. For the nine tests using phantom data, the automated structure-matching technique was able to predict the correct rotation angles to within +/- 1 degree. The expected clinical performance of the new technique was assessed by comparing results obtained with the new method to those obtained using other techniques for 12 patients who were treated with charged particles at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) and who had image-registration studies performed as part of their treatment plan. For 9 of the 12 patients considered, the new structure-matching technique produced a significantly better registration than the older methods, as measured by the resultant average relative volume lying outside of the intersection between any structure and its transformed counterpart. For the other three patients, results were not significantly different for the new structure-matching method and the older techniques.
Failure analysis of a metal bellows flexible hose subjected to multiple pressure cycles

Abstract During pressure testing of a reinforced metal bellows flexible hose, a premature burst failure of the hose occurred. The hose was pressurized three times during testing instead of only being pressurized once, as was anticipated. Since this was an unexpected failure of the hose, an analysis was performed to further understand the characteristics of the flexible hose, which was pressurized numerous times. It was found through this analysis that by cycling the pressure on the hose and applying a pressure much greater than the yield capabilities of the hose, this combination of yielding and cycling, caused the braid to be unable to provide sufficient external support of the bellows. This led to a burst failure.
Massive signal tracing using on-chip DRAM for in-system silicon debug

Silicon debug is a major challenge due to continuously increasing design complexity. Traditional debug methods using signal tracing suffer from the limited capacity of on-chip trace buffers that only allow for signal observation during a short time window. We propose a low-cost debug architecture for massive signal tracing in ICs that integrate fast DRAM, such as 2D-ICs with embedded DRAM or 3D-stacked ICs with wide-I/O DRAM dies. The key idea is to use available on-chip DRAM for trace-data storage, which results in a significant increase of the observation window compared to traditional methods that use trace buffers. During a debug session, the entire observation window is divided into intervals and a signature is calculated for each observed interval using a multiple-input signature register. At run time, intervals containing erroneous bits are identified by comparing their signature with pre-calculated “golden” signatures that are stored in the DRAM a priori. Only failing intervals including their time stamp are stored into DRAM, which allows for a more efficient use of the memory, resulting in a larger observation window. The proposed method does not require multiple iterations or intermediate processing steps, hence it can be used during functional testing with minimum time overhead associated with the upload of golden signatures and the download of stored debug data to external equipment. We have created a Verilog RTL model for the proposed architecture, synthesized it using a 45 nm CMOS library, and verified its functionality by simulation. The results show that the observation window can be increased by orders of magnitude compared to prior work at comparable hardware cost.
Multiple Elements and Protein Factors Coordinate the Basal and Cyclic Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate-Induced Transcription of the Lutropin Receptor Gene in Rat Granulosa Cells

The expression of the lutropin receptor (LHR) in granulosa cells is a complex phenomenon under the hormonal control of FSH and estradiol. Using primary cultures of granulosa cells from immature female rats pretreated with diethylstilbestrol (a compound with estrogen-like activity), the role of FSH in LHR induction was studied. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that FSH or 8-bromo-cAMP addition to these cells causes a marked increase in the rate of transcription of the rat LHR (rLHR) gene. The present studies were undertaken to compare the properties of the rLHR gene in undifferentiated vs. differentiated rat granulosa cells as a means of determining those elements that confer basal activity and cAMP responsiveness. Our studies show that the proximal 155 bp (relative to the translational initiation codon) of the 5′-flanking region of rLHR gene represent a minimal promoter that accounts for the basal expression of this receptor in rat granulosa cells. A major domain located between nucleotides...
In fine mettle

Intermetallics. Editors, R. W. Cahn, C. T. Liu, G. Sauthoff, M. Yamaguchi. Elsevier. 4/yr. £219, $335.
Spectral hole burning of a strongly exciton-coupled bacteriochlorophyll a antenna complex

Abstract Persistent spectral hole burning is reported for the antenna complex of the photosynthetic bacterium Prosthecochloris aestuarii . This complex contains subunits which contain seven BChl a molecules. The hole burning data are shown to be consistent with an excitonically coupled system. The data also provide the magnitude of the inhomogeneous broadening, a decay time of ≈ 250 fs for an upper exciton level and the magnitude of the linear exciton-phonon coupling of the optical transition associated with the lowest energy absorption system.