cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium inhibits the heparin-catalyzed antithrombin III/thrombin reaction by decreasing the apparent binding affinity of heparin for thrombin

The present study has shown that calcium inhibits the heparin-catalyzed antithrombin III/thrombin reaction. The initial rate of thrombin (4.0 nM) inhibition by antithrombin III (200 nM) in the presence of heparin (2.5 ng/ml) decreased from 3.6 nM/min (in the absence of calcium) to 0.12 nM/min in the presence of 10 mM calcium. In the absence of heparin, the initial rate of thrombin inhibition by antithrombin III was not affected by calcium. The heparin-catalyzed antithrombin III/thrombin reaction is described by the general rate equation for a random-order, bireactant, enzyme-catalyzed reaction (M. J. Griffith (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13899-13902). As such, the reaction is saturable with respect to both thrombin and antithrombin III. The apparent kinetic parameters for the heparin-catalyzed antithrombin III/thrombin reaction were determined in the presence and absence of calcium. The apparent heparin/antithrombin III dissociation constant values were not measurably different in the presence of 0, 1.0, and 3.0 mM calcium. The apparent heparin/thrombin dissociation constant value increased from 7.0 nM, in the absence of calcium, to 10 and 30 nM in the presence of 1.0 and 3.0 mM calcium, respectively. The maximum reaction velocity, at saturation with respect to both proteins, was not affected by calcium. It is concluded that calcium binds to functional groups within the heparin molecule which are required for thrombin binding.
Thinking and Learning with Technology: Helping Students Construct Meaning

When students are given tasks and lessons that have defined outcomes, opportunities to pursue inquisitive paths of inquiry are diminished for both teachers and students. Providing lessons and assignments that require students to think about how technology can resolve their uncertainty is one way for them to construct meaning.
Host and pathogen ecology drive the seasonal dynamics of a fungal disease, white-nose syndrome

Seasonal patterns in pathogen transmission can influence the impact of disease on populations and the speed of spatial spread. Increases in host contact rates or births drive seasonal epidemics in some systems, but other factors may occasionally override these influences. White-nose syndrome, caused by the emerging fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is spreading across North America and threatens several bat species with extinction. We examined patterns and drivers of seasonal transmission of P. destructans by measuring infection prevalence and pathogen loads in six bat species at 30 sites across the eastern United States. Bats became transiently infected in autumn, and transmission spiked in early winter when bats began hibernating. Nearly all bats in six species became infected by late winter when infection intensity peaked. In summer, despite high contact rates and a birth pulse, most bats cleared infections and prevalence dropped to zero. These data suggest the dominant driver of seasonal transmission dynamics was a change in host physiology, specifically hibernation. Our study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to describe the seasonality of transmission in this emerging wildlife disease. The timing of infection and fungal growth resulted in maximal population impacts, but only moderate rates of spatial spread.
An analysis of concanavalin a-mediated agglutination in two chinese hamster ovary subclones whose surface phenotypes respond to maintenance in medium supplemented with dibutyryl cyclic amp. V. Biochemical composition of the plasma membrane

Abstract We have used two Chinese hamster ovary subclones whose surface phenotype has been extensively investigated with regard concanavalin A-mediated cell-cell agglutination and concanavalin A-induced receptor site clustering to investigate what changes in membrane composition, if any, can be correlated with the concanavalin A-detected changes in surface phenotype. These cell clones are uniquely disposed for this purpose since maintenance of the cells under different growth conditions produces changes in agglutinability and receptor site mobility in one cell clone (H-7 w ) but not the other (K-1). After extensive characterization of the surface membranes of these two subclones we have been unable to identify any change in the membrane peptides, glycopeptide, cholesterol, or fatty acid composition which can be directly correlated with the concanavalin A-detected surface phenotypes. It is of particular interest to note that we have been unable to correlate the presence or absence of the large external transformation-sensitive glycoprotein with the relative mobility of the lectin receptors or with the degree of concanavalin A-mediated cell agglutination. Furthermore we have been unable, in this system, to corroborate earlier data suggesting a role for cholesterol in determining the relative mobility of the lectin receptors. Thus using a cell system consisting of genetically matched cell clones, we have been unable to identify any changes in the biochemical composition of the plasma membrane which might be associated with the surface phenotypes detected by concanavalin A.
Safe storage of dilute ethylene oxide mixtures in water

In the past industry has had to rely on a number of “rules of thumb” to provide a means of reasonable analysis for many design, operation, safety and similar issues. The lack of readily available computing facilities made the use of “rules of thumb” a necessary part of doing business in the hydrocarbon processing industry. And these “rules of thumb” have proven useful and allowed many tasks to be accomplished successfully. Today, however, availability of mainframe computers or desktop computing facilities has provided a tool that has decreased the need to rely on “rules of thumb.” And in many cases processing improvements can only be accomplished by replacing “rules of thumb” with more rigorous analysis. In the ethylene oxide producing/consuming industry a widely-used “rule of thumb” concerns the storage of ethylene oxide water solutions. A well-publicized “rule” stated that solutions in excess of 1-2 weight percent ethylene oxide in water should not be stored [1]. This “rule” is certainly valid in many situations. However, this guideline may be unnecessarily restrictive in other cases. The impact of several key process parameters impacts the amount of ethylene oxide in water than can be safely stored. This study will show that higher concentrations of ethylene oxide in water can be safely stored under the right circumstances. The study will also discuss the key variables that determine whether aqueous ethylene oxide solutions can be safely stored. Finally, a methodology used in determining how much ethylene oxide in water can be safely stored will be outlined.
Magnon Excitation Spectrum in Ferromagnetic Quasicubic Manganites

The magnon excitation spectrum of ferromagnetic quasicubic manganites is studied by using the linearized spin-wave approximation for the double-exchange and the superexchange interactions. Two situations are distinguished: 1) a rigid coupling of the t2g and eg spins via a large Hund's rule coupling and 2) a softened coupling between these spins (e.g., due to coupling of the eg electrons to Jahn-Teller modes). Case 2) leads to a softening of the magnon dispersion (compared to the Heisenberg model) close to the zone boundary.
Nonlinear dynamics for broadband energy harvesting: Investigation of a bistable piezoelectric inertial generator

Vibration energy harvesting research has largely focused on linear electromechanical devices excited at resonance. Considering that most realistic vibration environments are more accurately described as either stochastic, multi-frequency, time varying, or some combination thereof, narrowband linear systems are fated to be highly inefficient under these conditions. Nonlinear systems, on the other hand, are capable of responding over a broad frequency range; suggesting an intrinsic suitability for efficient performance in realistic vibration environments. Since a number of nonlinear dynamical responses emerge from dissipative systems undergoing a homoclinic saddle-point bifurcation, we validate this concept with a bistable inertial oscillator comprised of permanent magnets and a piezoelectric cantilever beam. The system is analytically modeled, numerically simulated, and experimentally realized to demonstrate enhanced capabilities and new challenges. In addition, a bifurcation parameter within the design is examined as either a fixed or an adaptable tuning mechanism for enhanced sensitivity to ambient excitation.
Embedded High-Quality Multichannel Audio Coding

An embedded high-quality multichannel audio coding algorithm is proposed in this research. The Karhunen-Loeve Transform is applied to multichannel audio signals in the pre- processing stage to remove inter-channel redundancy. Then, after processing of several audio coding blocks, transformed coefficients are layered quantized and the bit stream is ordered according to their importance. The multichannel audio bit stream generated by the proposed algorithm has a fully progressive property, which is highly desirable for audio multicast applications in heterogenous networks. Experimental results show that, compared with the MPEG Advanced Audio Coding algorithm, the proposed algorithm achieves a better performance with both the object Mask-to- Noise-Ratio measurement and the subjective listening test at several different bit rates.
Prosody in a communication system developed without a language model

Prosody, he "music" of language, is an important aspect of all natural languages, spoken and signed. We ask here whether prosody is also robust across learning conditions. If a child were not exposed to a conventional language and had to construct his own communication system, would that system contain prosodic structure? We address this question by observing a deaf child who received no sign language input and whose hearing loss prevented him from acquiring spoken language. Despite his lack of a conventional language model, this child developed his own gestural system. In this system, features known to mark phrase and utterance boundaries in established sign languages were used to consistently mark the ends of utterances, but not to mark phrase or utterance internal boundaries. A single child can thus develop the seeds of a prosodic system, but full elaboration may require more time, more users, or even more generations to blossom.
An evaluation of the effect of reductions in ambient levels of primary pollutants on sulfate and nitrate wet deposition

Abstract The effect of reductions in the initial gas phase concentrations of SO 2 , NO x and reactive hydrocarbons on sulfate and nitrate production and deposition under precipitating conditions is studied using a one-dimensional time-dependent version of the STEM-II model. Simulations corresponding to highly polluted, moderately polluted and rural conditions are evaluated for both daytime and night-time conditions. The simulation results indicate that complex relationships can exist between the initial concentrations of primary pollutants and the resultant sulfate and nitrate deposition. The results also demonstrate a strong coupling between the gas phase photochemical cycles and acid formation in clouds within storm events.
On Emotion as a Lapse from Rationality

Abstract Robert Solomon, a philosopher noted for arguing the conciliation of reason and emotion, holds that emotions which are a lapse from rationality are unimportant. Their importance is supported here. Emotional habits of discourse, as well as of action, are discussed, unlike in most treatments of reason and emotion. The implication for cognitive and moral education is that the ability to engage in rational discussion, and the discipline to maintain application to difficult tasks, are seen as potentially curtailed by emotional habits of evasion. Comments are added to contest the decisiveness of the main argument used to reconcile reason and emotion, that is, the analysis of emotions as having a cognitive element.
Bridging the research gap: making HRI useful to individuals with autism

While there is a rich history of studies involving robots and individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), few of these studies have made substantial impact in the clinical research community. In this paper we first examine how differences in approach, study design, evaluation, and publication practices have hindered uptake of these research results. Based on ten years of collaboration, we suggest a set of design principles that satisfy the needs (both academic and cultural) of both the robotics and clinical autism research communities. Using these principles, we present a study that demonstrates a quantitatively measured improvement in human-human social interaction for children with ASD, effected by interaction with a robot.
Parameter estimation of exponentially damped sinusoids using higher order statistics

A new approach for the estimation of the parameters of exponentially damped sinusoids is introduced based on third- or fourth-order statistics of the observation signal. The method may be seen as an extension of the minimum norm principal eigenvectors method to higher order statistics domains. The strong points and limitations of the method are discussed as well as sufficient conditions for the existence of the solution. The utilization of the method in the case of finite length signals in the presence of additive Gaussian noise (white or colored) is addressed. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the new method when the additive noise is colored Gaussian with unknown autocorrelation sequence for different signal-to-noise ratios and a single data record. The case of an ensemble of data records is studied when the exponentially damped sinusoids are assumed to have random phase. >
Soil stress state orientation beneath a tire at various loads and inflation pressures

Abstract Stress state transducers (SSTs) were used to determine the orientation of the major principal stress, σ 1 , in soil beneath the centeline of an 18.4R38 radial-ply R-1 drive tire operated at 10% slip. Two soils, a sandy loam and a clay loam, were each prepared twice to obtain two density profiles. One profile of each soil had a hardpan and the soil above the hardpan was loose. The soil in the second profile was loosely tilled. The stress state was determined at a depth of 358 mm in the sandy loam and 241 mm in the clay loam soil. The tire was operated at two dynamic loads (13.2 and 25.3 kN), each at two levels of inflation pressure (41 and 124 kPa). When the orientation of σ 1 was determined directly beneath the axle, the mean angles of tilt in the direction of travel ranged from 6 to 23 degrees from vertical. Inflation pressure did not significantly affect the angle when the dynamic load was 13.2 kN in the sandy loam soil, and neither inflation pressure nor dynamic load significantly affected the angle in the clay loam soil. When the dynamic load was 25.3 kN in the sandy loam soil, the orientation of the major principal stress determined directly beneath the axle was tilted significantly more in the direction of travel when the tire was at 41 kPa inflation pressure than when at 124 kPa. These changes in stress orientation demonstrate the importance of measuring the complete stress state in soil, rather than stresses along only one line of action. The changing orientation of σ 1 as the tire passes over the soil indicates the soil undergoes kneading and supports future investigation of the contribution of changes in stress orientation to soil compaction.
Quantitation of rodent catalepsy by a computer-imaging technique.

Abstract Catalepsy is usually defined as a behavioral state in which an animal maintains an unnatural posture for an extended period of time. While numerous laboratory models have been developed for assessing catalepsy, a common problem encountered with most procedures is the difficulty in quantitating immobility. Measurement of catalepsy is still frequently subjective in nature. To eliminate this subjectivity, a computer-based technique was developed for quantitating catalepsy in mice and rats as measured on the elevated ring. The system consisted of a videocamera that was focused on either three mice or two rats. Their behavior was recorded during a 5-min session on videotape that was subsequently transmitted to a Macintosh II microcomputer via a Scion Image-Capture 2 board. A modification of the NIH Image 1. 17 public domain program allowed the image of the rat to be transformed to a purely black or white image by assigning pixel values of either 0 or 256. The subsequent captured image was preprocessed in an identical manner and each pixel was subtracted from its corresponding pixel in the previous frame. Thus, changes in animal posture between the two frames can be quantitated. One subtraction cycle (acquisition, bilevel processing, and subtraction) was repeated at an average rate of approximately one per second. To quantitate immobility by image analysis, each frame was subtracted from the previous frame during a 5-min session. The resulting data were sorted according to the magnitude of movement (number of changed pixels) and plotted vs. time. A biphasic plot resulted, showing a clear demarcation between mobility and immobility that could also easily be distinguished from background noise inherent in the video imaging system. Quantitation of the period of immobility in this fashion was found to be in close agreement with that obtained by human observation over a wide range of immobility-inducing drugs.
Adaptive Machine Learning Approaches to Seasonal Prediction of Tropical Cyclones

Abstract Tropical cyclones (TCs) are devastating phenomena that cause loss of life and catastrophic damage, owing to destructive winds, flooding rains and coastal inundation from storm surges. Accurate seasonal predictions of TC frequency and intensity are required, with a lead-time appropriate for preemptive action. Current schemes rely on linear statistics to generate forecasts of the TC activity for an upcoming season. Such techniques employ a suite of intercorrelated predictors; however, the relationships between predictors and TCs violate assumptions of standard prediction techniques. We extend tradition linear approaches, implementing support vector regression (SVR) models. Multiple linear regression (MLR) is used to create a baseline to assess SVR performance. Nine predictors for each calendar month (108 total) were inputs to MLR. MLR equations were unstable, owing to collinearity, requiring variable selection. Stepwise multiple regression was used to select a subset of three attributes adaptive to specific climatological variability. The R2 for the MLR testing data was 0.182. The SVR model used the same predictors with a radial basis function kernel to extend the traditional linear approach. Results of that model had an R2 of 0.255 (∼ 40% improvement over linear model). Refinement of the SVR to include the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) improved the SVR predictions dramatically with an R2 of 0.564 (∼ 121% improvement over SVR without QBO).
Si homojunction internal photoemission far-infrared detectors

A novel 48 micrometers cutoff wavelength ((lambda) c) Si far-IR (FIR) detector is demonstrated. Internal photoemission over a Si interfacial work-function of a homojunction consisting of molecular beam epitaxy grown multilayers is employed. The detector shows high responsivity over a wide wavelength range with a peak responsivity of 12.3 +/- 0.1 A/W at 27.5 micrometers and detectivity D* of 6.6 X 1010 cm (root) Hz/W at 4.2 K. The (lambda) c and bias dependent quantum efficiency agree well with theory. Based on the experimental results and the model, Si FIR detectors with high performance and tailorable (lambda) cs can be realized using higher emitter layer doping concentrations.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
France and the Spanish Civil War: Cultural Representations of the War Next Door

Not long after it broke out in July 1936, the Spanish Civil War absorbed the attention of Europe’s literary and politically engaged intelligentsia, most of whom would regard it both at the time and...
Chlorine promotion of selective ethylene oxidation over Ag(110): Kinetics and mechanism

Abstract The selective oxidation of ethylene to ethylene epoxide (C2H4 + 1 2 O2 → C2H4O) is catalyzed industrially with a supported Ag catalyst which is promoted for selectivity by adding trace amounts of chlorinated hydrocarbons to the reactant feed. It was recently shown that the role of the chlorine promoters can be modeled by adding chlorine adatoms to a clean Ag(110) surface, and observing how the reaction rates and selectivity vary with chlorine coverage (θCl) (C. T. Campbell and M. T. Paffett, Appl. Surf. Sci. 19, 28 (1984); Proceedings 1983, MRS Symposium, Boston . A continuation of that work is presented in which the reaction kinetics as a function of θCl have been carefully mapped. From these data a mechanism for promotion is developed. The experiments are performed in a special apparatus which allows rapid ( 0.4 (after nucleation of a p(2 × 1)-Cl structure). It is concluded that the selectivity increase is driven by an ensemble effect, whereby CO2 production requires more free Ag sites than does epoxide production.
Using Multimedia Case Development as a Critical Reflective Tool for Revitalizing School Stakeholders’ Organizational Learning

This article reports design and development efforts associated with one school-university collaborative partnership project focused on assisting K-12 school community stakeholders struggling with difficult school improvement challenges learn how to reinvent themselves as organizational teams to engage effectively in positive school change and renewal. The project employs an alternative, immersive organizational learning design in conjunction with available multimedia technology to leverage stakeholders’ own lived experiences and leadership challenges as opportunities to engage school community participants in a unique organizational case development and team learning adventure. Multimedia case development and production activities involving school community stakeholders in one elementary school are highlighted. Insights derived from the use of multimedia case development as an organizational leading and learning tool for educators and other stakeholders in school communities are discussed.
SELECTIVE ESTROGEN RECEPTOR MODULATORS: FROM BENCH TO BEDSIDE AND BACK

Objective: To provide a brief review of the history of the development of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), the current data assessing the effect of SERMs at the organ level, and the ...
Inhibition of calcineurin facilitates the induction of memory for sensitization in Aplysia: Requirement of mitogen-activated protein kinase

The induction of both synaptic plasticity and memory is thought to depend on the balance between opposing molecular regulatory factors, such as protein kinases and phosphatases. Here we show that inhibition of protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin, CaN) facilitates the induction of intermediate-term memory (ITM) and long-term memory (LTM) for tail shock-induced sensitization in Aplysia without any effect on short-term memory. To identify the molecular cascade underlying the improvement of memory by inhibition of CaN, we examined the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Molecular experiments revealed that one pulse of serotonin, which by itself does not activate MAPK, leads to significant MAPK activation in the sensory neurons of the pleural ganglia when CaN is inhibited. Extending these observations, behavioral experiments showed that the facilitated induction of ITM and LTM produced by CaN inhibition depends on MAPK activity. These results demonstrate: (i) that CaN acts as an inhibitory constraint in the formation of long-lasting phases of memory, and (ii) that facilitated induction of ITM and LTM by CaN inhibition requires MAPK activity.
Strain Differences in Fatigue and Depression after Experimental Stroke

Fatigue and depression are common symptoms after stroke. Animal models of poststroke fatigue (PSF) and poststroke depression (PSD) would facilitate the study of these symptoms. Spontaneous locomotor activity is as an objective measure of fatigue and learned helplessness an accepted correlate of depression. We used different rat strains to evaluate stroke-induced changes in behavior in hopes that interstrain differences would provide insights into the biological basis of these symptoms. Male Lewis, Wistar, and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats underwent experimental stroke. Spontaneous activity was assessed continually after stroke (for up to 50 days). In a subset of animals, the forced swim test was performed prior to and 1 month after stroke to assess learned helplessness; blood was obtained at sacrifice for cytokine assay. Stroke induced strain-related differences in activity; Lewis rats increased spontaneous activity during the dark cycle, while Wistar and SD rats increased activity during the light cycle. The velocity of movement decreased during the dark cycle in Wistar and SD rats and during the light cycle in Lewis rats. Stroke also led to an increase in learned helplessness in Lewis rats. In summary, different patterns of behaviors emerge in different rat strains after stroke. Lewis rats displayed behavior consistent with depression but not fatigue, while Wistar and SD rats displayed behavior consistent with fatigue but not depression. These data argue that PSF and PSD are different biological constructs and suggest that analysis of strain-related differences may provide insight into symptom pathophysiology.
Ribosome accumulation and the regulation of epidermal hyperplastic growth.

Abstract Ribosomes accumulate in large numbers during epidermal hyperplastic growth, and their number returns to normal levels during the period of regression when the hyperplastic epidermis returns to its normal size. There is a rough correlation between the degree of epidermal hyperplastic growth and the amount of ribosome accumulation in each epidermal cell. Elevated ribosome levels are also seen in chronic epidermal hyperplasia and in epidermal papillomas. The suggestion is put forward that the marked accumulation of ribosomes in epidermal cells, as well as other as yet unspecified linked molecular changes, produce an imbalance which keeps epidermal cells proliferating resulting in hyperplastic growth. In epidermal tumors this imbalance is locked in place resulting in a permanent epidermal hyperplastic growth condition.
Rehabilitation Following High Tibial Osteotomy

Tibial osteotomy is an effective surgical intervention for treating knee malalignment associated with pain or arthrosis in young and active patients. Although the techniques have evolved, the basic principle has been used for many years. The advent of improved fixation devices has allowed for earlier and more aggressive return to activity, resulting in the need for new rehabilitation guidelines that are individualized to patient pathology, expectations, and abilities.
Comparison of the subcutaneous and intranasal administration of an LH-RH antagonist ([N-Ac-d-p-Cl-Phe1,2, d-Trp3, d-Arg6, d-Ala10]-LH-RH) in the rhesus monkey

Although luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists have been administered successfully by other than systemic routes (oral, intranasal (i.n.) and vaginal), there is no evidence that inhibitory analogues may be used in any form other than injectable. In the present study, we compared the effect of two routes of administration: (1) subcutaneous (s.c.), 0.5, 0.2 and 1 mg; and (2) i.n., 0.2, 1 and 5 mg of an LH-RH antagonist, ORG 30276 ([N-Ac-d-p-Cl-Phe1,2,d-Trp3,d-Arg6,d-Ala10]-LH-RH) on gonadotropin levels in oophorectomized monkeys. One hour after s.c. administration, FSH and LH values exhibited a dose-dependent fall that lasted for up to 12h. After s.c. administration, the maximum inhibition of serum FSH and LH was 29 and 41% (0.2 mg dose) and 41 and 58% (1 mg dose), respectively. After i.n. administration, maximum inhibition of serum FSH and LH was 19 and 40% (1 mg) and 32 and 53% (5 mg), respectively. These decreases were dose-related and lasted for up to 12h. Analysis of the data revealed that the bioavailability of the i.n. route versus the s.c. route ranged from 16 to 26%. This high effectiveness of the i.n. route in terms of bioavailability is markedly greater than that previously reported for LH-RH agonists (1%) and is probably due to a resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis in the nasal mucosa. These results show for the first time that antagonists of LH-RH can be administered by routes other than parenteral, increasing their potential clinical use in conditions in which inhibition of gonadotropins is desired, as in contraception and in therapy for endometriosis, precocious puberty, and hormone-dependent neoplasms.
Temperature-Regulated Activity of Responsive Polymer−Protein Conjugates Prepared by Grafting-from via RAFT Polymerization

A facile route to well-defined "smart" polymer-protein conjugates with tunable bioactivity is reported. Protein modification with a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent and subsequent room temperature polymerization in aqueous media led to conjugates of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and a model protein. Representing the first example of polymer-protein conjugation with RAFT agent immobilization via the "R-group" approach, high molecular weight and reductively stable conjugates were accessible without extensive purification or adverse effects on the protein structure. An increase in molecular weight with conversion was observed for the chains grafted from the protein surface, confirming the controlled nature of the polymerization. The responsive behavior of the immobilized polymer facilitated conjugate isolation and also allowed environmental modulation of bioactivity.
A selective approach to draw data from altered foraminifera shells

A sudden surge in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and the ocean 56 million years ago may have triggered the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), a period of rapid and dramatic warming. In conjunction with the rising atmospheric temperature, ocean acidification significantly increased the dissolution, or “burndown,” of carbonate sediments on the seafloor, destroying the preservation quality of seafloor foraminifera shells.
A Comparison of Perceptions and Attitudes of Commercially Guided Recreational Users and Private Recreational Users on the White Salmon River, Washington

During the 2009 summer recreation season, researchers conducted a river use study at the White Salmon Wild and Scenic River in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The principle focus of this study was to understand if river recreationists perceived crowding and conflict and to measure their satisfaction levels. Specifically, researchers wanted to identify any differences between private users and users recreating with outfitter guides for the following variables: perceptions of crowding, acceptable number of times to see others, acceptable time to wait before starting their activity, reasons for recreating, quality of facilities and services, and how others impact their experience. The resulting data will be used to better manage Special Use Permits.
Concentration distributions in a model combustor

A hot-wire concentration probe with a spatial resolution of 0.13 mm is used to measure concentration in a model cylindrical combustor. The flow inside the combustor is simulated by injecting a helium jet into a cylindrical confinement with or without swirling air flow present. Mean concentrations are essentially zero outside of the jet region, indicating complete confinement of the scalar field by the swirling flow. Consequently, concentration fluctuations are found to be relatively weak compared to velocity fluctuations, and are maximum off-axis at a point which corresponds to the interface between helium and air flows. However, in the absence of a swirling air flow, the helium diffuses quickly to fill the combustor. The resulting helium concentrations are constant and do not resemble the jet-like behavior of the velocity field.
Use of GPS receivers as a soil moisture network for water cycle studies

[1] Measurements of soil moisture, both its global distribution and temporal variations, are required to study the water and carbon cycles. A global network of in situ soil moisture stations is needed to supplement datasets from satellite sensors. We demonstrate that signals routinely recorded by Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers for precise positioning applications can also be related to surface soil moisture variations. Over a three month interval, GPS-derived estimates from a 300 m2 area closely match soil moisture fluctuations in the top 5 cm of soil measured with conventional sensors, including the rate and amount of drying following six precipitation events. Thousands of GPS receivers that exist worldwide could be used to estimate soil moisture in near real-time, with L-band signals that complement future satellite missions.
Anne Hutchinson, sectarian mysticism, and the Puritan order

Anne Hutchinson has been one of the few women to attain canonical status in the history of colonial New England. Her marvelous intellectual abilities (so unusual in a seventeenth-century woman), her popularity among Boston men as well as women, and the powerful political and theological implications of her challenge render Hutchinson a force that must be explored if colonial Massachusetts is to be understood. Not only are historians fascinated by this extraordinary woman herself, they are intrigued by the colony's response to her; for in that very response the founders may have revealed their essential character. So a few books and many articles have analyzed and reanalyzed Hutchinson as victim of Puritan injustice, as threat to the Puritan experiment, as menopausal neurotic, as antinomian heretic, as rebel (occasionally a protofeminist one).
Contribution of Itraconazole Metabolites to Inhibition of CYP3A4 In Vivo

Itraconazole (ITZ) is metabolized in vitro to three inhibitory metabolites: hydroxy-itraconazole (OH-ITZ), keto-itraconazole (keto-ITZ), and N-desalkyl-itraconazole (ND-ITZ). The goal of this study was to determine the contribution of these metabolites to drug-drug interactions caused by ITZ. Six healthy volunteers received 100 mg ITZ orally for 7 days, and pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted at days 1 and 7 of the study. The extent of CYP3A4 inhibition by ITZ and its metabolites was predicted using this data. ITZ, OH-ITZ, keto-ITZ, and ND-ITZ were detected in plasma samples of all volunteers. A 3.9-fold decrease in the hepatic intrinsic clearance of a CYP3A4 substrate was predicted using the average unbound steady-state concentrations (C(ss,ave,u)) and liver microsomal inhibition constants for ITZ, OH-ITZ, keto-ITZ, and ND-ITZ. Accounting for circulating metabolites of ITZ significantly improved the in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of CYP3A4 inhibition compared to a consideration of ITZ exposure alone.
Semiparametric likelihood inference for left-truncated and right-censored data

This paper proposes a new estimation procedure for the survival time distribution with left-truncated and right-censored data, where the distribution of the truncation time is known up to a finite-dimensional parameter vector. The paper expands on the Vardis multiplicative censoring model (Vardi, 1989. Multiplicative censoring, renewal processes, deconvolution and decreasing density: non-parametric estimation. Biometrika 76: , 751-761), establishes the connection between the likelihood under a generalized multiplicative censoring model and that for left-truncated and right-censored survival time data, and derives an Expectation-Maximization algorithm for model estimation. A formal test for checking the truncation time distribution is constructed based on the semiparametric likelihood ratio test statistic. In particular, testing the stationarity assumption that the underlying truncation time is uniformly distributed is performed by embedding the null uniform truncation time distribution in a smooth alternative (Neyman, 1937. Smooth test for goodness of fit. Skandinavisk Aktuarietidskrift 20: , 150-199). Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimator are established. Simulations are performed to evaluate the finite-sample performance of the proposed methods. The methods and theories are illustrated by analyzing the Canadian Study of Health and Aging and the Channing House data, where the stationarity assumption with respect to disease incidence holds for the former but not the latter.
In situ extractive fermentation of acetone and butanol

The productivity of the acetone-butanol fermentation was increased by continuously removing acetone and butanol from the fermentation broth during fed-batch culture. Whole broth containing viable cells of Clostridium acetobutylicum was cycled to a Karr reciprocating plate extraction column in which acetone and butanol were extracted into oleyl alcohol flowing counter-currently through the column. By continuously removing these toxic metabolites from the broth, end product inhibition was reduced, and a concentrated feed solution containing 300 g/L glucose was fermented at an overall butanol productivity of 1.0 g/L h, 70% higher than the productivity of normal batch fermentation. The continuous extraction process provides flexible operation and lends itself to process scale-up.
An Enzymatic Method for the Analysis of Formate in Human Plasma

An enzymatic method for the determination of plasma formate concentration is described. Formate dehydrogenase is used to reduce NAD+ to NADH in the presence of formate. The resulting NADH then reduces the dye resazurin to resorufin, a reaction catalyzed by the endogenous diaphorase of the plasma. The generated resorufin is then measured fluorimetrically by exciting it at 565 nm and quantitating the emitted light at 590 nm. The method uses the patient's plasma as the blank and as the matrix for the construction of a patient-specific formate calibration curve. The blank contains all components of the assay system except the formate dehydrogenase. Formate concentration is determined from the calibration curve, constructed by adding known quantities of sodium formate to the plasma base, and plotting the fluorescence intensity against formate concentration. The assay which is sensitive to a formate level of 7 mg/L should find application in cases where formate is a metabolite.
Surface arthroplasty of the hip: A review and current indications

Surface arthroplasty of the hip has been reintroduced to maximize bone stock preservation and minimize the morbidity of revision surgery in the young and active adult with hip disease. Hemi-resurfacing arthroplasty has now a well-defined role in the very young patient with osteonecrosis of the hip in the presence of collapse and minimal acetabular cartilage damage. In patients with advanced disease and a relatively young age, metal-on-metal surface arthroplasty offers a conservative prosthetic solution with predictable pain relief. In addition, proper patient selection with the use of the Surface Arthroplasty Risk Index and careful surgical technique have been shown to impact clinical outcome. Early results have shown a significant decrease in short-term failures and equal clinical functional results in total hip replacement for this patient age group.
Quantitation of a Minor Enantiomer of Phenanthrene Tetraol in Human Urine: Correlations with Levels of Overall Phenanthrene Tetraol, Benzo[a]pyrene Tetraol, and 1-Hydroxypyrene

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are well established carcinogens that are likely to play a role in causing some human cancers. One accepted pathway of PAH metabolic activation is the formation of bay region diol epoxides. Some individuals may be particularly susceptible to PAH carcinogenesis because they metabolically activate PAH more effectively than others. We have used the measurement of urinary phenanthrene tetraols (Phe-tetraols) as a biomarker of PAH exposure plus metabolic activation since bay region diol epoxides are hydrolyzed to tetraols. Because of stereoselectivity in Phe metabolism, Phe-(1R,2S,3R,4S)-tetraol (4) results mainly from the bay region diol epoxide pathway, and Phe-(1S,2R,3S,4R)-tetraol (7) is formed mainly from the reverse diol epoxide pathway, not generally associated with carcinogenicity. The latter pathway accounts for more than 95% of human urinary Phe-tetraol. In most previous studies, Phe-tetraol was quantified without enantiomeric resolution, using a relatively rapi...
Fast and Efficient Graph Traversal Algorithm for CPUs: Maximizing Single-Node Efficiency

Graph-based structures are being increasingly used to model data and relations among data in a number of fields. Graph-based databases are becoming more popular as a means to better represent such data. Graph traversal is a key component in graph algorithms such as reach ability and graph matching. Since the scale of data stored and queried in these databases is increasing, it is important to obtain high performing implementations of graph traversal that can efficiently utilize the processing power of modern processors. In this work, we present a scalable Breadth-First Search Traversal algorithm for modern multi-socket, multi-core CPUs. Our algorithm uses lock- and atomic-free operations on a cache-resident structure for arbitrary sized graphs to filter out expensive main memory accesses, and completely and efficiently utilizes all available bandwidth resources. We propose a work distribution approach for multi-socket platforms that ensures load-balancing while keeping cross-socket communication low. We provide a detailed analytical model that accurately projects the performance of our single- and multi-socket traversal algorithms to within 5-10% of obtained performance. Our analytical model serves as a useful tool to analyze performance bottlenecks on modern CPUs. When measured on various synthetic and real-world graphs with a wide range of graph sizes, vertex degrees and graph diameters, our implementation on a dual-socket Intel (R) Xeon (R) X5570 (Intel micro architecture code name Nehalem) system achieves 1.5X -- 13.2X performance speedup over the best reported numbers. We achieve around 1 Billion traversed edges per second on a scale free R-MAT graph with 64M vertices and 2 Billion edges on a dual-socket Nehalem system. Our optimized algorithm is useful as a building block for efficient multi-node implementations and future exascale systems, thereby allowing them to ride the trend of increasing per-node compute and bandwidth resources.
Modified Booth equation for the calculation of zeta potential

An easy-to-use computer program based on the modified Booth equation (MBE) is developed to calculate the zeta potential of a spherical nonconducting particle from knowledge of the electrophoretic mobility, particle size, and the type and concentration of ions present in the solution. The program is applied to five sets of previously published literature data and the resulting zeta potentials are compared with the values given by the Henry equation to illustrate the extent of the relaxation effect in each case. In four cases, the output zeta potential data are compared with the corresponding values obtained from the rigorous numerical solution of O’Brien and White. Results indicate that the computer program developed here gives a reliable estimate of the zeta potential. The main advantage in using the MBE lies in its capability of calculating the zeta potential even for cases where the experimentally measured mobility exceeds the maximum theoretical mobility predicted by the O’Brien and White solution.
Anterior-posterior and medial-lateral control of sway in infants during sitting acquisition does not become adult-like

We examined (1) how sitting postural control in infants develops in the anterior–posterior (A/P) and medial–lateral (M/L) directions of sway, and (2) whether this control is already adult-like during the late phase of infant’s sitting acquisition. COP data were acquired from 14 healthy infants (from the onset of sitting until independent sitting) and 21 healthy adults while sitting on a force platform. Attractor dimensionality (CoD: correlation dimension), attractor predictability (LyE: largest Lyapunov exponent), and sway variability (RMS: root-mean square) were calculated from the COP data to evaluate postural control. In the A/P direction, sitting was mastered by the infants by decreasing the active degrees of freedom of the postural system (decreased CoD), using a more predictable and (locally) stable sway (decreased LyE), and increasing sway variability (increased RMS). Control of sitting became practically simple, stable and exploratory with infant development. This may support the hypothesis that the sitting posture serves as the foundation for the development of other motor skills, as reaching. In the M/L direction, only sway variability decreased with development, possibly due to changes in the infant’s body dimensions. Taken together, these findings indicate that early in development the focus is more in the A/P than the M/L direction. Adults’ postural control was found more adaptable than the infants in both directions, involving more active degrees of freedom and less predictable sway patterns. Identifying the factors that make the dynamics of the postural system adult-like requires further research.
Clock-Jitter-Tolerant Wideband Receivers: An Optimized Multichannel Filter-Bank Approach

Clock jitter is one of the most fundamental obstacles in realizing future generations of wideband receivers. Stringent jitter specifications in the sampling clocks of high-performance single-channel and multichannel time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters severely limit the evolution of baseband receivers. This paper presents an analytical framework for the design of clock-jitter-tolerant low-order multichannel filter-bank receivers, with techniques to dramatically lower the sampling-clock-jitter specifications. Although it is well understood that high-order frequency-channelized receivers provide higher tolerance to sampling jitter, this paper shows that low-order bandwidth-optimized multichannel receivers can achieve similar sampling-jitter tolerance. Additionally, this paper presents design tradeoffs and specifications of an example multichannel receiver that can process a 5-GHz baseband signal with 40 dB of signal-to-noise-ratio using sampling clocks that can tolerate up to 5 prmss clock jitter. In comparison, existing architectures based on time-interleaving require 0.5 prmss clock jitter for the given specifications. This extreme jitter tolerance allows for relaxed design of clocking systems, which averts a major roadblock in future wideband-communication-receiver development and provides the potential to enable several high-data-rate communication applications.
Improved selectivity of an engineered multi-product terpene synthase.

Mutation of the sesquiterpene synthase Cop2 was conducted with a high-throughput screen for the cyclization activity using a non-natural substrate. A mutant of Cop2 was identified that contained three amino acid substitutions. This mutant, 17H2, converted the natural substrate FPP into germacrene D-4-ol with 77% selectivity. This selectivity is in contrast to that of the parent enzyme in which germacrene D-4-ol is produced as 29% and α-cadinol is produced as 46% of the product mixture. The mutations were shown to each contribute to this selectivity, and a homology model suggested that the mutations lie near to the active site though would be unlikely to be targeted for mutation by rational methods. Kinetic comparisons show that 17H2 maintains a kcat/KM of 0.62 mM−1 s−1, which is nearly identical to that of the parent Cop2, which had a kcat/KM of 0.58 mM−1 s−1.