cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA Read Feature Importance Using Machine Learning for Read Alignment Categories.

An empirical understanding of how DNA read features affect read alignment quality categories is useful in designing better read mapping and alignment software, read trimmers, and sequence masks. Many programs appear to use arbitrarily chosen features that are putatively relevant to DNA alignment quality. Machine learning gives a ready way to empirically assess a variety of features and rank them according to their importance. Sequence complexity features such as run length distribution, DUST, and entropy, and quality measures from the DNA read data were used to predict read alignment quality categories on Ion Torrent and Illumina data sets using both bisulfite-treated and untreated short DNA reads. Run length mean and variance did as well or better than the DUST score and entropy, even though several programs use the DUST score and entropy. Sequence compression features performed poorly. Predictive accuracy of the models had F1-scores between 0.5–0.95 indicating that the feature set can fairly well predict alignment categories.
Truth-telling, Black women and the pedagogy of fake news in higher education

Racist and sexist power hierarchies endure in the US under the guise of fake news. The authors engage in the Black feminist tradition of truth-telling and centre the experiences of Black women in t...
Modeling synucleinopathies in rodents

Abstract Animal models are essential to study the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease and to develop disease-modifying therapies. The identification of α-synuclein as a disease-associated gene and the discovery of this protein as one of the major constituents of Lewy bodies, have prompted the generation of animal models based on α-synuclein transgenesis or viral vector-mediated α-synuclein overexpression. Later, new insights on the “prion-like” properties of α-synuclein led to a new generation of models for Parkinson's disease. These transmission models are developed by intracerebral inoculation of α-synuclein fibrils. Technical advancements and new insights into α-synuclein pathology have led to a wide array of available rodent models that have greatly contributed to our understanding of different aspects of Parkinson's disease. Each of these models has their own characteristics with certain advantages and limitations. The best choice of the animal model will be dependent on the specific question or scientific hypothesis to be tested. In this chapter, we give a comprehensive overview of the different α-synuclein-based rodent models that have been developed.
Expression of ceruloplasmin in the retina: induction after optic nerve crush.

PURPOSE. TO better understand the molecular program of neuronal cell death induced by axotomy, the authors attempted to identify retinal genes differentially expressed by optic nerve crush. METHODS. Total RNA isolated from rat retinas at 1 and 4 days after intraorbital optic nerve crush was used in a modification of the differential display technique. After several rounds of screening, a single reproducibly upregulated band was reamplified and cloned, and differential expression was confirmed by Northern analysis. RESULTS. Sequencing of the differentially expressed band revealed identity to the ferroxidase ceruloplasmin. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated high levels of ceruloplasmin expression in retina and liver, but minimal or no expression in brain, lung, spleen, kidney, or thymus of adult rats. The retina mRNA transcript was the same size as that of the liver, as measured by Northern blotting. In situ hybridization identified ceruloplasmin expression in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers of the retina, which increased after optic nerve crush. Immunoblotting confirmed expression of the same size protein product in the retina and the liver, and ceruloplasmin could be identified in the retina by immunofluorescence, which increased after optic nerve crush. CONCLUSIONS. Ceruloplasmin was expressed in the retina, and was induced by optic nerve crush. The possible role of ceruloplasmin in inhibiting reaction oxygen species in the retina after injury is discussed. {Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998;39:157-l63)
Pattern Recognition Methods in Image and Video Databases: Past, Present and Future

Image and video (multimedia) database systems have been on an increase in recent years. Several applications demand the retrieval of multimedia data from these database systems based on their content. The users of these systems and applications perceive the data in different ways and demand the ability to query the data based on their perception of the content. This need has spurred an interest to develop pattern recognition methods which can capture the visual information content and place them in a suitable form for database indexing. This paper describes some of the image and video database systems and the various pattern recognition methods used therein.
On the Road with John Steinbeck: The Beat of the Beats Goes on in Travels with Charley: In Search of America

In 1950, ten years before John Steinbeck and Charley crisscrossed America in a camper-pickup, Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady also crisscrossed America from "sea to shining sea" in a 1949 Hudson. While Steinbeck was traveling on down the road in the Fall of 1960 with Charley, Kerouac, in a November 16, 1960, letter, warned his sister, Caroline, that he did not intend to "let myself be snaked into the position of great writers like Steinbeck who lost his greatness," according to Kerouac, because he was not "Beat" enough, in the sense of not being "bum" enough, for
Anisotropy of Collision Excited States

Excitation of atoms alters the distribution of electron charge clouds. Absorption of energy lifts atoms to higher energy states characterized by diffuse electronic wave functions. The parameter which characterizes the excitation process, namely the excitation cross section, has the dimensions of (length)2. The dimensions and the designation “cross section” indicate that this parameter relates, in some sense, to atomic size. Because it measures the likelihood for a particular process, the cross section is fundamental to applications of atomic collision data to other areas of technology. Tabulation and codification of such data remain continuing goals of much research.
Iron stress in plants.

Although iron is an essential nutrient for plants, its accumulation within cells can be toxic. Plants, therefore, respond to both iron deficiency and iron excess by inducing expression of different gene sets. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of iron homeostasis in plants gained through functional genomic approaches.
Small RNA-mediated DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase 1 inhibition leads to aberrant DNA methylation

Mammalian cells contain copious amounts of RNA including both coding and noncoding RNA (ncRNA). Generally the ncRNAs function to regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Among ncRNA, the long ncRNA and small ncRNA can affect histone modification, DNA methylation targeting and gene silencing. Here we show that endogenous DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) co-purifies with inhibitory ncRNAs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) bind directly to DNMT1 with high affinity. The binding of miRNAs, such as miR-155-5p, leads to inhibition of DNMT1 enzyme activity. Exogenous miR-155-5p in cells induces aberrant DNA methylation of the genome, resulting in hypomethylation of low to moderately methylated regions. And small shift of hypermethylation of previously hypomethylated region was also observed. Furthermore, hypomethylation led to activation of genes. Based on these observations, overexpression of miR-155-5p resulted in aberrant DNA methylation by inhibiting DNMT1 activity, resulting in altered gene expression.
Mechanics of ocular lens accommodation consistent with the classical Helmholtz theory

A mathematical model is derived to account for the classical Helmholtz theory of accommodation mechanics. By treating the lens capsule as the only elastic deformable component of the ocular lens and the lens fibre as an incompressible liquid capable of supporting a hydrostatic pressure, the mechanical response of a lens subject to equatorial tensile by the zonules is found. The results are consistent with Helmholtz that a stretched or unaccommodated lens possesses a reduced curvature along the optical pole. The model is compared with an alternative model recently built by Chien et al.
Revision of Failed Flatfoot Surgery

Revision of failed flatfoot surgery presents a unique and challenging dilemma for the foot and ankle surgeon. Revision surgery is focused on establishing a plantigrade foot with correction of the hindfoot valgus, midfoot abduction, and forefoot varus. Successful reconstruction of failed flatfoot surgery begins with a proper evaluation. No treatment algorithm exists for the management of the malaligned flatfoot. Patient complaints, an understanding of the initial deformity and biomechanical problems, and surgeon experience play a role in correction of failed flatfoot surgery.
EFFECTS OF ADJUNCTS ON RESTRUCTURED PORK

Boneless pork shoulders were excised 24h postmortem, frozen, tempered, flaked and blended with one of the four formulations: (1) 1% NaCl and .25% sodium tripolyphosphate (STP); (2) .5% NaCl, .5% KCl and .25% STP; (3) 1% NaCl, .25% STP and .125% lecithin; or (4) .5% NaCl, .5% KCl, .25% STP and .125% lecithin. The blended samples were converted to restructured chops and stored at - 18C until evaluated at 5, 14 and 56 days. Appearance and taste attributes were measured objectively and subjectively. Objective and subjective measurements of color and other visual traits revealed that storage time affected these traits more than the adjuncts; whereas, all treatments had a minimal effect on texture and juiciness. Increased frozen storage time and lecithin contributed to flavor degradation and increased TBA values. Further research is needed to determine the effect of varying amounts of lecithin on oxidative rancidity of restructured muscle foods.
Particle diffusion in a quasi-two-dimensional bacterial bath.

We study the effect of bacterial motion on micron-scale beads in a freely suspended soap film. Given the sizes of bacteria and beads, the geometry of the experiment is quasi-two-dimensional. Large positional fluctuations are observed for beads as large as $10\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ in diameter, and the measured mean-square displacements indicate superdiffusion in short times and normal diffusion in long times. Though the phenomenon is similar to Brownian motions of small particles, its physical origin is different and can be attributed to the collective dynamics of bacteria.
Inhibitors of protein farnesylation 1998

Protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase) inhibitors are being studied as mechanistically novel antitumour agents. Whilst the antiproliferative effects of PFTase inhibitors are well-documented in cell culture and rodent animal models, clinical studies which began in 1997 should soon reveal their utility in human cancer patients. This review summarises the scientific and patent literature covering PFTase inhibition that has been published since the previous two updates [1,2]. New biology with a potential impact on the utility of PFTase inhibitors is reviewed first, followed by a discussion of new PFTase inhibitors. As in earlier updates, compounds are grouped according to their kinetic mechanism of PFTase inhibition.
Brain-training software for stroke survivors

Brain-training software and websites are becoming more prevalent nowadays because of their wide availability and the key idea that they enable people to independently improve their memory and problem solving skills. Such systems offer a simple alternative to expensive specialized stroke rehabilitation software. Our research seeks to investigate the feasibility of using web-based brain-training software to help stroke survivors and, in general, individuals with cognitive impairments. We observed and interviewed stroke survivors to get a better understanding of the technologies that they feel are helpful, as well as examine the effectiveness and limitations of such technologies. We compiled an informal set of guidelines that such systems should follow in order to be effective and usable rehabilitation software aimed to help stroke survivors or individuals with cognitive impairments. To validate the guidelines and see if new ones emerged, we developed a low-fidelity prototype of a web-based brain-training software and tested it with five participants to check its feasibility as a cognitive rehabilitation software solution. The result was an improved set of guidelines for software that aims to improve the cognitive skills of stroke survivors and, in general, individuals with cognitive impairments.
Consumer interest in information cues denoting quality, traceability and origin: An application of ordered probit models to beef labels

The objective of this paper is, first, to determine which information cues on beef labels really attract consumer interest, specified as the level of perceived importance attached to and attention paid to label cues. The focus is (1) on indications of quality through a quality label and quality guarantee, (2) on indications referring to the mandatory European beef labelling regulation and traceability system, and (3) on indications reflecting country-of-origin. The second objective is to assess the impact of a campaign aiming at informing consumers about beef traceability, and at raising consumer interest in beef quality, traceability and origin. Data were collected from a sample of 278 beef consumers in Belgium. Ordered probit models were specified and estimated to assess the impact of individual characteristics and the beef labelling information campaign. Findings reveal that consumer interest is generally low for traceability, moderate for origin and high for direct indications of quality like a quality guarantee seal or expiration date. Interest in label cues is specifically low among younger males. Further, the information campaign had a measurable positive impact on consumer attention paid to direct indications of quality and country-of-origin. Strategies including traceability for backing up on-label indications of quality and origin, rather than providing consumers with detailed traceability information on-label, are recommended.
IMPLEMENTING AN INDEPENDENT PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATION DIABETIC REGISTRY UTILIZING A CLINICAL PHARMACIST

ABSTRACTObjectives: To develop a computer-based diabetic registry for patients with diabetes mellitus enrolled in a large Independent Physicians Association (IPA) in the Midwest. Using the IPA's patients with diabetes HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) value, perform an audit to assess optimal therapeutic goals: To determine if implementation from a Pharmacist to refine therapeutic regimens of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on selected oral agents, will improve clinical outcomes. To improve the IPA's compliance with HEDIS (Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set) Standards of Measurement.Design: Part I of a three part clinical analysis, using retrospective lab data and prescription claims records.Setting: An Independent Physicians Association with approximately eighty physicians located in the Midwest Region.Patients: Patient's within the IPA were gathered from physician documentation of diabetes using the IC9-250 code. Medication data was obtained from insurance prescription claims.Methodology: The...
Theory and application of the maximum likelihood principle to NMR parameter estimation of multidimensional NMR data.

A general theory has been developed for the application of the maximum likelihood (ML) principle to the estimation of NMR parameters (frequency and amplitudes) from multidimensional time-domain NMR data. A computer program (ChiFit) has been written that carries out ML parameter estimation in the D-1 indirectly detected dimensions of a D-dimensional NMR data set. The performance of this algorithm has been tested with experimental three-dimensional (HNCO) and four-dimensional (HN(CO)-CAHA) data from a small protein labeled with 13C and 15N. These data sets, with different levels of digital resolution, were processed using ChiFit for ML analysis and employing conventional Fourier transform methods with prior extrapolation of the time-domain dimensions by linear prediction. Comparison of the results indicates that the ML approach provides superior frequency resolution compared to conventional methods, particularly under conditions of limited digital resolution in the time-domain input data, as is characteristic of D-dimensional NMR data of biomolecules. Close correspondence is demonstrated between the results of analyzing multidimensional time-domain NMR data by Fourier transformation, Bayesian probability theory [Chylla, R.A. and Markley, J.L. (1993) J. Biomol. NMR, 3, 515–533], and the ML principle.
Estimating the rate of battery degradation under a stationary Markov operating policy

Rechargeable Li-Ion battery energy storage is becoming a vital component of many power systems. The infinite horizon Markov decision problem (MDP) framework has been proposed for optimal scheduling of battery charging and discharging under uncertainty in many applications, such as hybrid electric vehicles and bulk electric power grids. In this paper we explain how to determine the expected rate of battery capacity degradation from the solution of an infinite horizon MDP and a degradation severity factor map. We apply the proposed methods to an example MDP from literature.
Salary increment allocation and individual differences

SUMMARY Sixty-seven M BA students were asked to provide salary increment recommendations for a set of employees. Contrary to past evidence of a preference for an adjustment system, the majority of respondents utilized an absolute merit system for determining salary increases (wherein employees of equal merit were assigned raises of equal dollar magnitude independent of initial base salary). Further analysis suggested the importance of an individual's value system in the decision to employ a particular approach to allocating raises.
Quantification and functional analysis of chemotaxis by laser scanning cytometry.

Background Evaluation of chemotaxis assays traditionally relies on cumbersome and at times inaccurate visual counting. Moreover, many physiologic parameters that could be evaluated in conjunction with chemotactic migration, aside from morphologic changes, usually are not assessed due to the lack of a simultaneous method of analysis. We tested the suitability of laser scanning cytometry (LSC) as a convenient platform for counting migrated cells and for concurrent analysis of some features associated with their physiologic status. Methods We induced migration of THP-1 monocytes across Nuclepore filters with monocyte chemotactic protein-1 or vascular endothelial growth factor, alone or in combination. Filters were collected, and cells were fixed on filters and stained with the nuclear stain propidium iodide. Chemotactic indices were obtained by counting representative microscopic fields and by scanning the filters in LSC mode. Results We found an excellent correlation between direct counting and LSC. In addition, the software tools embodied in the LSC instrument allowed the observation of changes in nuclear compactness (increase in propidium iodide brightness) and morphology (increase in nuclear area and perimeter) that occurred in transmigrated cells. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor acted as additive stimuli on these parameters. Conclusions LSC analysis of cells undergoing chemotaxis provides a reliable and comprehensive assessment of the numbers and distribution of migrated cells and some of their nuclear parameters. The method can be easily extended to include the assessment of coincident molecular changes in cells due to chemotactic stimulation. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Global Analysis and Economics I: Pareto Optimum and a Generalization of Morse Theory†

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the problem in the setting of global analysis, or several differentiable real functions on a manifold. It extends the notion of Pareto optimum to a larger set which one calls the critical Pareto set θ. This set θ is the analog and generalization of the set of critical points of a single differentiable function, while the old Pareto optimum is the analog and generalization of a maximum of a single function. This expansion of the economists' setting allows for the systematic introduction of calculus and global differentiable methods to the process of optimizing several functions on a manifold. For example, the chapter obtains a natural notion of dynamics in this setting to generalize that of a gradient flow. The approach contrasts with the more usual equilibrium or static approach mathematical economists take toward the study of a pure exchange economy. This development proceeds very naturally; arbitrary choices seem unnecessary.
Coal Strip Mining, Mountaintop Removal, and the Distribution of Environmental Violations across the United States, 2002–2008

This study draws upon concepts in landscape research and environmental justice to examine the association between community poverty and environmental violations that occurred between 2002 and 2008 across 110 coal strip mining operations located within the United States. Multivariate results suggest that residential poverty is greater around facilities that have been identified as violating an environmental law. In addition, the association between poverty and violations is dependent upon regulatory inspections. While an increase in inspections is associated with an increase in the odds that a violation will be discovered, it is also associated with lower levels of community poverty. We conclude that this pattern of associations between poverty, inspections, and violations is consistent with arguments in the environmental justice and landscape literatures.
An Extended Integrated Development Environment Strategy for the Enterprise

This document outlines a Rockwell Collins initiative currently underway to establish an eXtended Integrated Development Environment (XIDE) throughout its enterprise. The strategies contained in this document are either based on steps already complete or steps that are planned. We begin with a description of the XIDE vision followed by the major attributes of an XIDE and their importance. Several approaches to XIDE tool integration are described and a tool integration framework technology is selected based on the goals of scalability and modularity, available components for tool integration, and platform portability characteristics. A strategic migration plan is then outlined by identifying steps necessary to implement the XIDE vision. The implementation steps are then explored further along with reasons why they’re necessary and guidance on how to approach them. The final section explores Eclipse in much greater detail, including its history as an open source tool, the Eclipse Foundation, and justification for its selection for the XIDE framework. Also included are guidelines for the use of open source, and a review of several scenarios where contributing to open source can make sound business sense.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Mode Locking in the Few-Femtosecond Regime Using Waveguide Arrays and the Coupled Short-Pulse Equations

A new theoretical model is proposed for characterizing the ultrashort (few femtoseconds and below) propagation dynamics in a laser cavity that is mode locked with a waveguide array. The theory circumvents the standard and problematic center-frequency expansion methods that typically result in the nonlinear Schrodinger-based master mode-locking equation. The resulting short-pulse-equation framework, which is the equivalent of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation for ultrafast pulses, provides an asymptotically valid description of the electric-field amplitude, even if pulses are shortened below a single cycle of the electric field. Given the lack of theory in the ultrafast regime, the model provides the beginning theoretical framework for quantifying the pulse dynamics and stability, as pulsewidths approach the attosecond regime.
The Mystery of Yakiv Orenshtain's Little Red Riding Hood

In a preliminary attempt to provide the cultural and historical context for a rare Russian children's book, the authors uncover the career of a prominent Ukrainian-Jewish publisher and suggest questions and keys to further research as well as possible sources for the book's illustrations.
Social Constraints on the Direct Perception of Emotions and Intentions

In this paper, we first review recent arguments about the direct perception of the intentions and emotions of others, emphasizing the role of embodied interaction. We then consider a possible objection to the direct perception hypothesis from social psychology, related to phenomena like ‘dehumanization’ and ‘implicit racial bias’, which manifest themselves on a basic bodily level. On the background of such data, one might object that social perception cannot be direct since it depends on and can in fact be interrupted by a set of cultural beliefs. We argue, however, that far from threatening the idea of direct perception, these findings clearly contradict the idea of hardwired theory of mind modules. More generally, we suggest that in order to further the understanding of social cognition we must take seriously insights about in-group and out-group distinctions and related phenomena, all of which are currently neglected in the mainstream social cognition literature.
Getting from Here to There: Locomotion in Virtual Environments

Walking is perhaps the most fundamental example of user interaction with a virtual environment (VE). Making walking, a sensory-motor action, seem natural to the VE user is a problem with many facets: locomotion interfaces should properly stimulate the senses, they should enable movement in any direction, e.g., walking backwards), and they should not impair the user's ability to build a mental model of the scene. Evaluating common locomotion techniques using path analysis and task performance has revealed their relative strengths and weaknesses. I will discuss three threads of recent research in locomotion: increasing the realism of eye position movement (and resulting optical flow), techniques that enable VE users in head-worn-display to really walk around scenes that are larger than the active area of their head tracker, and investigations of the effects of various locomotion interfaces on the cognitive aspects of locomotion.
Race, nation and diplomacy: Japanese immigrants and the reconfiguration of Brazil's ‘desirables’

An examination of early Japanese immigrants in Brazil (1908–1942) suggests that the infrastructure of Japanese‐Brazilian relations was framed before Brazil declared war on Japan in 1942. This infrastructure was built on a desire by the governments and elite of both countries to achieve two objectives: capitalist expansion and domestic tranquility. These two objectives were manifested in a coherent programme of migration, expansion of international trade, and domestic order. In Japan, this was translated into a concerted campaign by governmental agencies and officials, corporations, and banks to export people and capital to Brazil. In Brazil, efforts were made to cooperate with the Japanese emigration establishment to manage and regulate the activities and lives of Japanese migrants. The success of this diplomacy was a product of an organised campaign that effectively exploited the dynamics of migrant labour, investment‐relations, and racism.
Technetium Behavior in Sulfide and Ferrous Iron Solutions

Pertechnetate oxyanion (/sup 99/TcO/sub 4//sup -/), a potentially mobile species in leachate from a breached radioactive waste repository, was removed from a brine solution by precipitation with sulfide, iron, and ferrous sulfide at environmental pH's. Maghemite (..gamma..-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/) and goethite (..cap alpha..-FeOOH) were the dominant minerals in the precipitate obtained from the TcO/sub 4//sup -/-ferrous iron reaction. The observation of small particle size and poor crystallinity of the minerals formed in the presence of Tc suggested that the Tc was incorporated into the mineral structure after reduction to a lower valence state. Amorphous ferrous sulfide, an initial phase precipitating in the TcO/sub 4//sup -/-ferrous iron-sulfide reaction, was transformed to goethite and hematite (..cap alpha..-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/) on aging. The black precipitate obtained from the TcO/sub 4//sup -/-sulfide reaction was poorly crystallized technetium sulfide (Tc/sub 2/S/sub 7/) which was insoluble in both acid and alkaline solution in the absence of strong oxidants. The results suggested that ferrous- and/or sulfide-bearing groundwaters and minerals in host rocks or backfill barriers could reduce the mobility of Tc through the formation of less-soluble Tc-bearing iron and/or sulfide minerals. 12 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.
Decimation Transformations in Lattice Systems of Continuous Spins

Decimation renormalization transformations are investigated for systems of continuous spins. The usual arguments against decimation can be avoided by considering products of decimation and spin scaling transformations. With the simple local types of spin scaling normally used for continuous spins, even these product transformations will have no fixed points for lattice dimension greater than one. A Gaussian fixed point for one-dimensional models with short range (but not only nearest neighbor) interactions is exhibited. A series of scaling transformations of increasing generality is investigated. It is found that a product of a nonlocal spin scaling transformation and a decimation will produce the usual fixed points, but that this type of product transformation is effectively much more a “block”-type transformation than a pure decimation.
Exploring the Racial Discrimination and Competition Processes of Race-Specific Violence in the Urban Context

There has been increasing effort devoted to examining the linkages between urban disadvantage and race-specifi c violence in the sociological literature. Much of this literature has either focused on identifying the consequences of urban disadvantage on different racial groups, particularly as it relates to offending rates, or documenting the impact of labor market factors on intra-racial and inter-racial violence. While this literature advances our understanding of the interconnections between race, economic disadvantage and violence in the urban context, our exploration into this literature has only begun. In this paper, we outline the contributions of the racial stratifi cation literature to the study of urban violence and argue that this literature plays an essential role in moving the study of race and urban violence forward. We offer ways (avenues) to incorporate the racial competition and exploitation literature into the study of violence within and between racial groups. In doing so, we emphasize ...
Oral histories in meteoritics and planetary science: X. Ralph B. Baldwin

In this interview, Ralph Baldwin describes how he earned his Ph.D. in astronomy and then, early in his career, became interested in the Moon and the origin of its craters. When he concluded that the craters were formed by meteorite impacts rather than by volcanism, he faced great difficulties in finding an audience or a publisher. During World War II, he helped to design and develop operating specifications for the radio proximity fuze which has been credited with shortening the War by at least one year. Subsequently, he joined the family firm, The Oliver Machinery Company, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He pursued his lunar studies on nights and weekends and wrote his first book, The Face of the Moon, which was published in 1949. Sales were poor, but the book was read by Harold C. Urey, who sought out Baldwin for discussions about the Moon, and by Peter M. Millman, in Ottawa, who prompted Dr. Carlyle S. Beals, the Dominion Astronomer, to begin the highly successful search for impact craters on the Canadian Shield. With his second book, The Measure of the Moon, published in 1963, Baldwin became recognized as a leading authority on the Moon and on planetary processes in general. He is the only scientist other than Eugene M. Shoemaker to whom the Meteoritical Society has presented both its Leonard Medal, in 1986, and its Barringer Medal, in 2000, and who also received the G. K. Gilbert Award, in 1986, from the Planetary Sciences Division of the Geologial Society of America.
Thin film transistors based on alkylphenyl quaterthiophenes: Structure and electrical transport properties

Thin films based on the akylphenyl-substituted quaterthiophenes 5,5‘ ‘‘-bis(4-methylphenyl)-2,2‘:5‘,2‘ ‘:5‘ ‘,2‘ ‘‘-quaterthiophene (1), 5,5‘ ‘‘-bis(4-n-propylphenyl)-2,2‘:5‘,2‘ ‘:5‘ ‘,2‘ ‘‘-quaterthiophene (2), and 5,5‘ ‘‘-bis(4-hexylphenyl)-2,2‘:5‘,2‘ ‘:5‘ ‘,2‘ ‘‘-quaterthiophene (3) were grown by vacuum deposition on thermally grown SiO2 substrates and characterized in a thin film transistor (TFT) configuration. Atomic force microscopy and specular (θ−2θ) X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed films with small, crystalline grains, in which the oligothiophenes were oriented “end-on” with respect to the SiO2 substrate. Interplanar spacing increased (1 = 28.0 A, 2 = 29.5 A, 3 = 37.7 A), consistent with increasing alkyl tail length. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) of the films (ca. 350 A thick) revealed nearly equivalent in-plane unit-cell areas (1 = 44.1 A2, 2 = 44.4 A2, 3 = 43.8 A2). The films functioned as p-channel semiconductors in a TFT configuration, exhibiting nearly equivalent hole mobilities...
Characterization of magmas, a novel gene involved in gm-csf signal transduction

Abstract Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 3 (IL-3) are two factors that affect the survival, growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. The receptors for these factors are comprised of an a subunit which is responsible for ligand specificity and a shared subunit known as the common b chain (bc). In order to identify genes uniquely responsive to one of these factors, we performed differential display on murine myeloid cell lines grown in either IL-3 or GM-CSF. One of the bands identified by differential display was shown on Northern blot to be rapidly induced when cells were switched from IL-3 to GM-CSF. Both human and murine cDNA and genomic DNA clones of this gene were isolated. A comparison of the encoded protein sequence showed that the murine cDNA and genomic DNA clones of this gene were isolated. A comparison of the encoded protein sequence showed that the murine and human genes were highly conserved. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the protein did not reveal homology to any known functional domains. Growth factor dependent cell lines were electroporated with constitutively expressed sense and anti-sense cDNA constructs of the gene. Cells transfected with the sense construct proliferated similarly to untransfected cells when cultured in IL-3 or GM-CSF. Cells containing the antisense construct also grew normally in IL-3, but were not able to proliferate in the presence of GM-CSF. This novel gene has been functionally named Magmas for M edi a tor of G ranulocyte M acroph a ge CSF s ignaling.
Tardive and spontaneous dyskinesia incidence in the general population

To identify the incidence rate of spontaneous dyskinesia (SD) and tardive dyskinesia (TD) in a general population and to examine the association between dykinesia and potential risk factors (exposure to metoclopramide [MCP], antipsychotic drugs, and history of diabetes and psychoses). A retrospective cohort study was conducted for the years 2001 through 2010, based on medical claims data from the Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators (DMBA). Thirty-four cases of TD and 229 cases of SD were identified. The incidence rate of TD among persons previously prescribed an antipsychotic or metoclopramide (MCP) (per 1,000) was 4.6 (1.6-7.7) for those with antipsychotic drug use only, 8.5 (4.8-12.2) for those with MCP use only, and 15.0 (2.0-28.1) for those with both antipsychotic and MCP use. In the general population, the incidence rate (per 100,000 person-years) of TD was 4.3 and of probable SD was 28.7. The incidence rates of TD and SD increased with age and were greater for females. Those with diabetes or psychoses had almost a 3-fold greater risk of TD than those without either of these diseases. Persons with schizophrenia had 31.2 times increased risk of TD than those without the disease. Positive associations also existed between the selected diseases and the incidence rate of probable SD, with persons with schizophrenia having 4.4 times greater risk of SD than those without the disease. SD and TD are rare in this general population. Diabetes, psychoses, and especially schizophrenia are positively associated with SD and TD. A higher proportion of those with SD present with spasm of the eyelid muscles (blepharospasm) compared more with the TD cases who present more with orofacial muscular problems.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Indene C–H Bond Activation by [(COD)Ir(μ2-OH)]2

The hydroxy-bridged dimer [(COD)Ir(μ2-OH)]2 (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) cleanly cleaves C–H bonds in indene and cyclopentadiene to produce (COD)Ir(η3-indenyl) and (COD)Ir(η5-C5H5), respectively. The kinetics of the formation of (COD)Ir(η3-indenyl) are consistent with a mechanism that involves coordination of indene to [(COD)Ir(μ2-OH)]2 followed by rate-determining C–H activation from the iridium dimer–indene unit. Transition-state analysis of the Ir and Rh hydroxy dimers indicates that the C–H activation proceeds through a direct deprotonation of indene by the M–OH unit rather than a stepwise oxidative addition/reductive elimination mechanism. The crystal structure of [(COD)Ir]5(μ4-O)(μ3-O)(μ2-OH), a dehydration product of [(COD)Ir(μ2-OH)]2, is presented.
A 32-Site 4-Channel Cochlear Electrode Array

A thin-film cochlear electrode array has been developed to improve pitch perception and reduce insertion damage. A silicon-parylene substrate supports 32 IrO sites on 250mum centers along with circuitry for current generation and position sensing. Interfacing over eight leads at plusmn3V, stimulus pulses cover plusmn500muA with 8b resolution and a minimum pulse width of 4mus
Environmental tolerances and requirements of splittail

Abstract The range of splittail Pogonichthys macrolepidotus has decreased to less than a third of its original range due to loss or alteration of habitats. We measured the critical thermal minima (CTmin) and maxima (CTmax), critical dissolved oxygen minima (CDOmin), critical salinity maxima (CTmax), salinity endurance, and critical swimming velocity (U crit) for age-0 (0.1–4.0 g), age-1 (10–48 g), and immature age-2 (72–201 g) splittails to assist in effective water and habitat management and restoration of this species. Neither thermal acclimation nor fish weight affected the CTmin (6.5–7.3°C), but CTmax (29–33°C) of fish acclimated at 17 and 20°C were higher than CTmax (21–22°C) of fish acclimated at l2°C. Mean CDOmin values were low (0.6–1.3 mg O2/L) for all age-groups, although immature age-2 fish acclimated at 12°C had a lower CDOmin than any group acclimated at 17°C. Mean CTmax (20–29‰) did not vary with acclimation temperature, but increased with increasing weight for fish acclimated at 17°C. Mean ...
μ-Calpain is functionally required for α-processing of Alzheimer’s β-amyloid precursor protein

Alzheimer’s β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) is normally processed by an unidentified α-secretase. A unique feature of this protease is its high sensitivity to phorbol esters, yet the mechanism involved is unclear. We have previously reported that phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) activates calpain, a Ca2+-dependent protease, and PDBu-induced release of APPs (secreted APP) is sensitive to calpain inhibitors, suggesting that calpain is involved in APP α-processing. In the present study, we found that PDBu markedly promoted the expression of both μ- and m-calpains in cultured fibroblasts. Dose–response and time course studies revealed that μ-calpain was more sensitive to PDBu than m-calpain and the temporal course of the μ-calpain change coincides better with that of APPs release. Moreover, the stimulatory effect of PDBu on μ-calpain was selectively blocked by μ-calpain-specific siRNA (small interference RNA) and the blockage was accompanied by a concomitant decrease in APPs release. In contrast, m-calpain siRNA did not affect APPs release significantly. Measurement of amyloid β protein (Aβ) release in the μ-calpain siRNA-treated cells indicated that Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels inversely changed in relation to APPs, and the changes in Aβ42 were more prominent than in Aβ40. Together, these data suggest that calpain, particularly μ-calpain, is a potential candidate for α-secretase in the regulated APP α-processing, and that changes in this protease can affect the outcome of the overall APP processing.
A Single Amino Acid Change Is Responsible for Evolution of Acyltransferase Specificity in Bacterial Methionine Biosynthesis

Bacteria and yeast rely on either homoserine transsuccinylase (HTS, metA) or homoserine transacetylase (HTA; met2) for the biosynthesis of methionine. Although HTS and HTA catalyze similar chemical reactions, these proteins are typically unrelated in both sequence and three-dimensional structure. Here we present the 2.0 A resolution x-ray crystal structure of the Bacillus cereus metA protein in complex with homoserine, which provides the first view of a ligand bound to either HTA or HTS. Surprisingly, functional analysis of the B. cereus metA protein shows that it does not use succinyl-CoA as a substrate. Instead, the protein catalyzes the transacetylation of homoserine using acetyl-CoA. Therefore, the B. cereus metA protein functions as an HTA despite greater than 50% sequence identity with bona fide HTS proteins. This result emphasizes the need for functional confirmation of annotations of enzyme function based on either sequence or structural comparisons. Kinetic analysis of site-directed mutants reveals that the B. cereus metA protein and the E. coli HTS share a common catalytic mechanism. Structural and functional examination of the B. cereus metA protein reveals that a single amino acid in the active site determines acetyl-CoA (Glu-111) versus succinyl-CoA (Gly-111) specificity in the metA-like of acyltransferases. Switching of this residue provides a mechanism for evolving substrate specificity in bacterial methionine biosynthesis. Within this enzyme family, HTS and HTA activity likely arises from divergent evolution in a common structural scaffold with conserved catalytic machinery and homoserine binding sites.
Ferrochelatase binds the iron-responsive element present in the erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase mRNA.

Abstract Ferrochelatase, the terminal enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway, binds an iron-responsive element (IRE) present in the 5′untranslated region of the mRNA for erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase, the first enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. This IRE-binding activity of ferrochelatase may play a critical role in the regulation of heme biosynthesis in differentiating erythrocytes.
Exploring the high-pressure behavior of superhard tungsten tetraboride

In this work, we examine the high-pressure behavior of superhard material candidate WB${}_{4}$ using high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell up to 58.4 GPa. The zero-pressure bulk modulus, ${K}_{0}$, obtained from fitting the pressure-volume data using the second-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state is 326 $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}$ 3 GPa. A reversible, discontinuous change in slope in the $c/a$ ratio is further observed at \ensuremath{\sim}42 GPa, suggesting that lattice softening occurs in the $c$ direction above this pressure. This softening is not observed in other superhard transition metal borides such as ReB${}_{2}$ compressed to similar pressures. Speculation on the possible relationship between this softening and the orientation of boron-boron bonds in the $c$ direction in the WB${}_{4}$ structure is included. Finally, the shear and Young's modulus values are calculated using an isotropic model based on the measured bulk modulus and an estimated Poisson's ratio for WB${}_{4}$.
Sea Surface Temperature–Precipitation Relationship in Different Reanalyses

AbstractThe focus of this investigation is how the relationship at intraseasonal time scales between sea surface temperature and precipitation (SST–P) varies among different reanalyses. The motivation for this work was spurred by a recent report that documented that the SST–P relationship in Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) was much closer to that in the observation than it was for the older generation of reanalyses [i.e., NCEP–NCAR reanalysis (R1) and NCEP–Department of Energy (DOE) reanalysis (R2)]. Further, the reason was attributed either to the fact that the CFSR is a partially coupled reanalysis, while R1 and R2 are atmospheric-alone reanalyses, or that R1 and R2 use the observed weekly-averaged SST.The authors repeated the comparison of the SST–P relationship among R1, R2, and CFSR, as well as two recent generations of atmosphere-alone reanalyses, the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) and the ECMWF Re-Analysis Interim (ERA-Interim). The results clearly...
Multiple scattering in the x-ray-absorption near-edge structure of tetrahedral Ge gases.

X-ray-absorption fine-structure (XAFS) measurements of ${\mathrm{GeCl}}_{4}$, ${\mathrm{GeH}}_{3}$Cl, and ${\mathrm{GeH}}_{4}$ were made. We experimentally isolate the single- and multiple-scattering terms in the XAFS of ${\mathrm{GeCl}}_{4}$ by comparison of the spectra of the three compounds. The multiple-scattering (MS) amplitude is comparable to the single-scattering (SS) amplitude only within 15 eV of the edge. Beyond 40 eV the MS to SS amplitude ratio is less than 0.06. Calculations are in qualitative agreement with experiment. Our results suggest that XAFS data in the range 13A${\r{}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ can be analyzed in a SS picture in many cases.
Counting alleles with rarefaction: Private alleles and hierarchical sampling designs

The number of alleles (allelic richness) in a population is a fundamental measure of genetic variation, and a useful statistic for identifying populations for conservation. Estimating allelic richness is complicated by the effects of sample size: large samples are expected to have more alleles. Rarefaction solves this problem. This communication extends the rarefaction procedure to count private alleles and to accommodate hierarchical sampling designs.