cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reponses of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis to climate change: pCO2 and sea surface temperatures

Abstract Increasing atmospheric CO2 is promoting ocean acidification and higher global temperatures and has been suggested as a possible factor for shifts in marine phytoplankton composition to more harmful species. Karenia brevis is the major harmful algal species in the Gulf of Mexico producing potent neurotoxins known as brevetoxins. We examined how changes in ocean inorganic carbon chemistry associated with pre-industrial (250 ppm), recent (350 ppm), and predicted at 2100 (1000 ppm) pCO2 levels and increased temperature affect growth rates and brevetoxin production in K. brevis. At the predicted pCO2 levels for 2100, growth rate of K. brevis Wilson clone increased substantially by 46% at 25 °C (0.43 ± 0.01 d−1) compared to recent and pre-industrial levels (0.29 ± 0.01 d−1). Growth rates also increased for a low brevetoxin-producing clone, SP1, from 0.24 ± 0.02 d−1 at lower pCO2 levels to 0.33 ± 0.003 d−1 at a pCO2 of 1000 ppm. When grown at a higher temperature (30 °C), growth rates for the Wilson clone significantly decreased at all three pCO2 by approximately 30%. However, even at the higher temperature, K. brevis growth rate significantly increased by 30% (0.30 ± 0.01 d−1) at the 1000 ppm CO2 level when compared to recent and pre-industrial CO2 levels (0.21 ± 0.01 d−1). Although K. brevis growth rate decreased at higher temperatures, the growth rate at pCO2 level of 1000 and 30 °C was slightly higher than at current conditions (pCO2 level of 350 and 25 °C). Modification of pCO2 levels and temperatures did not have an effect on total brevetoxin production or brevetoxin profiles in either clone examined. Due to the increased growth rate, total brevetoxin production was significantly higher at the pCO2 level of 1000. Finally, from these results we conclude there is no connection between growth rate and brevetoxin per cell. Although neither pCO2 nor temperature influenced brevetoxin production per cell, we suggest that under predicted future climate conditions K. brevis blooms have the potential to produce higher cell concentrations and increased brevetoxin concentrations, which will pose an increased risk for ecosystem and human health.
Effect of clarithromycin on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pimozide in healthy poor and extensive metabolizers of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6)

Background The use of pimozide is associated with prolongation of the QT interval and fatal ventricular arrhythmia. We recently reported 2 fatal cases in patients taking pimozide and clarithromycin and we have shown that clarithromycin inhibits CYP3A-mediated metabolism of pimozide in vitro. In this study, we examined the effect of clarithromycin on pimozide pharmacokinetics and QT interval changes in a total of 12 healthy subjects (7 men and 5 women), documented as extensive metabolizers or poor metabolizers of CYP2D6. Methods In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design, subjects were given a single 6-mg oral dose of pimozide after 5 days of treatment with clarithromycin (500 mg twice a day) or a placebo pill. Blood samples were obtained before and for 96 hours after pimozide administration, and plasma pimozide and clarithromycin concentrations were measured by HPLC. Electrocardiograms for the analysis of the QTc intervals were recorded immediately before each blood sample. Results Pimozide significantly lengthened QTc interval in the first 20 hours in both the placebo-treated groups (ΔQTcmax = 13.3 ± 5.3 ms; P = .003) and clarithromycin-treated groups (ΔQTcmax = 15.7 ± 9.5 ms; P = .005) compared with baseline values. This is consistent with an effect of the parent drug. Clarithromycin caused a significant increase in the peak plasma concentration (P = .015), terminal elimination half-life (P = .003), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (P = .024) and a decrease in the clearance (P = .029) of pimozide. Mean QTcmax observed within 20 hours of pimozide administration was significantly greater in the clarithromycin-treated group (23.8 ± 12.2 ms; P = .0397) than in the placebo-treated group (16.8 ± 6 ms). There was no significant effect of CYP2D6 or gender on the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of pimozide. Conclusions A single 6-mg oral dose of pimozide resulted in measurable QT interval changes. Clarithromycin inhibited CYP3A-mediated pimozide metabolism and the resulting elevation in plasma concentrations may increase the risk of pimozide cardiotoxicity. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1999) 65, 10–20; doi:
The pluses of subtraction

A general problem in genetics is the identification of specific DNA sequence differences underlying phenotypic variation. These differences can be foreign DNA segments from an infecting pathogen that integrate into a host genome, spontaneously arising DNA rearrangements or point mutations that cause cancer in somatic tissues, or a wide variety of induced and naturally occurring mutations that are transmitted from generation to generation, often resulting in genetic diseases in humans. Each of these situations requires a somewhat different approach to identify the particular DNA difference in the genomes of the unaffected and the affected cell or organism that causes the phenotype. But, as a rule for all of these cases, the larger the genome or the smaller the DNA difference, the more difficult it is to find. In this issue of Science, Lisitsyn and co-workers (1) describe a new method, based on the principles of subtractive hybridization, for cloning even the smallest DNA differences between two or more complex genomes that shows great promise for speeding up this rate-limiting step in genetic analysis.
Abstract A26: Multi-Reg: An integrative parallel approach to uncover drivers of cancer

Tumor samples harbor a vast number of genomic alterations of various kinds, and it is not easy to distinguish driver alterations that contribute to oncogenesis from passenger alterations. Most computational methods attempt to identify driver alternations by focusing on the most frequent alterations. Previous work in our lab has led to the development of CONEXIC, a Bayesian framework for integrating copy number and gene expression to identify candidate driver genes in cancer and to link them to gene expression signatures they regulate (Akavia et al, Cell, 2010). This framework was applied to data from melanoma cell lines, where it correctly identified known drivers (MITF) and connected them to their known targets. In addition, it predicted novel tumor dependencies not previously implicated in melanoma, which were confirmed experimentally. In general, current algorithms identify only one driver (the strongest) controlling a gene expression signature. However, drivers may act in parallel, where not only the strongest one is important. For example, either PTEN deletion or AKT activation can lead to a similar expression signature and phenotype. Therefore, we developed a new algorithm, based on the same principles as CONEXIC with multiple improvements. The new algorithm (called Multi-Reg) is capable of detecting multiple candidate regulators that can all act in parallel to regulate an expression signature. This algorithm can integrate mutations in addition to copy number and expression. Finally, we have designed Multi-Reg to be easier and quicker to run and more robust. We applied Multi-Reg to glioblastoma data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). This data includes copy number, gene expression and mutations for hundreds of primary tumor samples. We found 84 candidate regulators that were missed by CONEXIC, but discovered by Multi-Reg. Because of Multi-Reg9s ability to search for genes working in parallel, it identified FGFR3, PDGFRA and NF1, in addition to EGFR & MET (identified by CONEXIC), as important candidate drivers. Additionally, Multi-Reg results identified RHPN2 as a novel oncogenic factor controlling a gene expression signature related to invasion and migration. Validation has shown that RHPN2 has limited effect on cell proliferation but induces invasiveness in glioblastoma cell lines. Our results correctly identify known drivers of glioblastoma progression, including oncogenes such as EGFR, MET, CEBPB and tumor suppressors such as p16 and NF1. Multi-Reg also has the capability to identify more regulators than CONEXIC, and has correctly linked RHPN2 to the oncogenic phenomena it controls. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr A26.
The Politics of the Death Penalty

The death penalty is declining in the United States. The number of people executed each year has fallen by about half since the late 1990s. Opinion polls show support for capital punishment is waning. It now stands at about two-thirds, down from a high point of 86% in 1995, according to Gallup polls (p. 173).
Oxidized orlon as a blood interface.

Polyacrylonitrile fabric (Orlon) may be oxidized by heating in air, when it becomes black and carbonized. During the heat treatment, the fibers shrink; this shrinkage allows components such as diaphrams to be shaped around molds. Oxidation reduces the tensile strength by about 25% and also reduces the stiffness of the material. The oxidized Orlon was screened in tissue culture for possible cytotoxic effects. Finding none, patches of the material were sutured into the right atrium of dogs and examined after 48 hr. Because of encouraging results, 10 atrial patches, consisting of Dacron velour and oxidized Orlon side-by-side, were implanted into the right atrium of dogs. Five patches were backed with Silastic to render them impervious, and five with segmented polyurethane. The atrial patches were examined after 48 hr, and in all instances the oxidized Orlon part of the patch was coated with a thinner and smoother fibrin layer than was the Dacron velour half. A left ventricular bypass pump was fabricated from oxidized Orlon and spraycoated on the nonblood surface with segmented polyurethane. After 48 hr implantation in the chest cavity of a calf, pumping without systemic anticoagulation, the pump was found covered by a thin, smooth, firmly attached layer of fibrin.
A new efficient method of solution to radiation transfer in absorbing, emitting, isotropically scattering, homogeneous, finite or semi-infinite, plane-parallel media

Abstract A new efficient method of analysis, which utilizes the natural eigenfunctions of the problem, is developed for solving radiation transfer in an absorbing, emitting, gray, isotropically scattering, homogeneous, finite or semi-infinite, plane-parallel medium. Expressions for the forward and backward radiation intensities, the incident radiation and forward and backward radiation heat fluxes are included. Since the physical aspects of the problem are well documented, attention is focused on the presentation of the method of analysis and discussion of its convergence and accuracy. For the test case involving uniform incident radiation on the boundary surface at x = 0, it is shown that the solution converges extremely rapidly to the exact results, and that lower-order approximations are highly accurate. For example, the first-order solution predicts values of the incident radiation, reflectivity and transmissivity that are less than 1% in error in almost all cases, for optical thicknesses in the range 0.1 ⩽ L ⩽ 10 and single-scattering albedos in the range 0.1 ⩽ ω ⩽ 0.99. The present method of solution has an excellent potential for generalization to anisotropic scattering and to radiation transfer in spherical and cylindrical geometries.
Applications of SXPS for studying surface structure, reaction mechanisms and kinetics

Soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SXPS) from the S 2p core level has been used to study adsorbate induced reconstruction, identify reaction intermediates and study reaction kinetics on the Ni(111) surface. The S 2p binding energy is affected by the nature of the surface adsorption site. It has been determined from the number of S 2p states and their relative binding energies that adsorbed S induces a reconstruction of the Ni(111) surface and that the S adsorbs in fourfold sites on terraces and in troughs. S 2p SXPS has also been used to identify adsorbed species during the thermal decomposition of methanethiol on Ni(111). CH{sub 3}SH adsorbs as CH{sub 3}S{minus} at low temperatures. Above 200 K, the CH{sub 3}S{minus} changes adsorption site and the C-S bond begins to cleave. The relative concentrations of CH{sub 3}S{minus} in the two different sites and of atomic S have been monitored as a function of temperature and initial coverage. As a result of the sensitivity and resolution available in SXPS, reaction rates and kinetic parameters have been obtained for the decomposition of benzenethiol on Ni(111) by monitoring the changes in the surface composition continuously as a function of temperature and time.
Fabrication of a tantalum-clad tungsten target for LANSCE

Abstract Development of a solid state bonding technique suitable to clad tungsten targets with tantalum was completed to improve operation of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Centers spallation target. Significant deterioration of conventional bare tungsten targets has historically resulted in transfer of tungsten into the cooling system through corrosion resulting in increased radioactivity outside the target and reduction of delivered neutron flux. The fabrication method chosen to join the tantalum cladding to the tungsten was hot isostatic pressing (HIP) given the geometry constraints of a cylindrical assembly and previous success demonstrated at KENS. Nominal HIP parameters of 1500 °C, 200 MPa, and 3 h were selected based upon previous work. Development of the process included significant surface engineering controls and characterization given tantalums propensity for oxide and carbide formation at high temperatures. In addition to rigorous acid cleaning implemented at each step of the fabrication process, a three layer tantalum foil gettering system was devised such that any free oxygen and carbon impurities contained in the argon gas within the HIP vessel was mitigated to the extent possible before coming into contact with the tantalum cladding. The result of the numerous controls and refined techniques was negligible coarsening of the native Ta2O5 surface oxide, no measureable oxygen diffusion into the tantalum bulk, and no detectable carburization despite use of argon containing up to 5 ppm oxygen and up to 40 ppm total CO, CO2, or organic contaminants. Post bond characterization of the interface revealed continuous bonding with a few microns of species interdiffusion.
HapFACS: An Open Source API/Software to Generate FACS-Based Expressions for ECAs Animation and for Corpus Generation

We present HapFACS (ver. beta), a new open source software and API for generating FACS-based facial expressions on 3D virtual characters that have accompanying lip-synchronized animation abilities. HapFACS has two main usage scenarios: First, with the HapFACS software, users can generate repertoires of realistic FACS-validated facial expressions, either as static images or as videos, Second, with the accessible HapFACS API, users can animate speaking virtual characters with real-time realistic facial expressions, and embed these expressive characters in their own application(s) without any prior experience in computer graphics and modeling. We describe how HapFACS (1) provides control over 49 FACS Action Units at all levels of intensity, (2) enables the animation of faces with a single AU or a composition of AUs, activated unilaterally or bilaterally, and (3) can be applied to any supported character in the underlying 3D-character system1. Finally, we provide details of evaluation experiments we conducted with FACS-certified scorers to validate the facial expressions generated by HapFACS.
Complete basis set and gaussian ab initio computational study of lithium and sodium insertion reactions with hydrogen molecule

Abstract High level complete basis set and gaussian ab initio methods are applied in exploring various potential energy surfaces for hydrogen, lithium, and sodium reactions with hydrogen molecules. The potential energy surface was explored for neutral, as well as charged reactants. Computed ionization potentials, electron affinities, and enthalpies for electron transfers were compared to experimental data when available, and for other chemical systems our best evaluated values were suggested for further experimental exploration of these reaction surfaces. It was demonstrated that lithium and sodium actually have different reaction pathways when reacting with hydrogen. Lithium abstracts hydrogen while sodium inserts into the hydrogen molecule. In any case, the computed activation barriers are substantially higher than in the case of the hydrogen radical reaction with a hydrogen molecule. It was predicted that in their excited states, the reaction barriers are decreasing, and the reactions should be experimentally feasible, which is supported by many experimental evidences.
Amino acid prodrug of quinidine: An approach to circumvent P-glycoprotein mediated cellular efflux

In the present study, we investigated the effect of large neutral amino acid modification in overcoming P-gp mediated cellular efflux of quinidine. L-isoleucine ester prodrug of quinidine (Ile-quinidine) was synthesized in our laboratory. [14C]-erythromycin was selected as a model substrate to study interaction of quinidine and Ile-quinidine with P-gp. Transport studies were conducted to study translocation kinetics of quinidine and Ile-quinidine in MDCK-MDR1 cells. In cellular accumulation study, uptake rate of [14C]-erythromycin elevated drastically in presence of cyclosporine A and GF 120918. This result indicates that [14C]-erythromycin is an excellent substrate of P-gp. Similarly, uptake rate of [14C]-erythromycin was enhanced significantly in presence of quinidine (25 and 50 μM). However, [14C]-erythromycin uptake rate remained fairly constant in presence of Ile-quinidine (25 μM). Apparent A-B and B-A permeability of quinidine observed in MDCK-MDR1 cells were 1.6 ± 0.2 × 10(-6) and 7.0 ± 0.4 × 10(-6)cm/s, a 4.4-fold difference. Moreover, A-B permeability of quinidine increased dramatically in the presence of cyclosporine A and GF 120918. Apparent permeability values of Ile-quinidine observed from A-B and B-A direction were 4.3 ± 0.9 × 10(-6) and 5.5 ± 0.4 × 10(-6)cm/s, a 1.3-fold difference. Importantly, A-B transport of Ile-quinidine did not change dramatically in the presence of cyclosporine and GF 120918. Based on these results, it was apparent that quinidine displayed higher substrate affinity toward P-gp relative to Ile-quinidine. Chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of Ile-quinidine resulted in regeneration of low quantities of quinidine during transport studies. Competitive inhibition studies demonstrated that Ile-quinidine was recognized by multiple amino acid transporters such as LAT1, LAT2 and cationic amino acid transporter. In conclusion, chemical modification of quinidine with neutral amino acids results in circumvention of P-gp mediated drug efflux. Hence, amino acid transporter targeted prodrug delivery seems to be a viable strategy for improving drug accumulation in P-gp overexpressing cells.
Trends in Network News Editing Strategies From 1969 Through 2005

Four editing variables were tracked through a content analysis of U.S. commercial network editing that spanned a 36-year period. The analysis revealed that synthetic-montage increased and continuity-realism decreased from 1969 through 1997. Network news editors also embraced faster pacing, shorter soundbites, and more special effects between 1969 and 2005. When taken together, the results suggest that U.S. network television journalism has evolved from more “camera of record” and realistic news techniques in favor of a variety of synthetic editing strategies that convey complex audio-visual arguments.
A correlation of servant leadership, leader trust, and organizational trust

Purpose – Aims to explore the relationship between employee perceptions of servant leadership and leader trust, as well as organizational trust.Design/methodology.approach – Uses Laub's Organizational Leadership Assessment along with Nyhan and Marlowe's Organizational Trust Inventory.Findings – Perceptions of servant leadership correlated positively with both leader trust and organizational trust. The study also found that organizations perceived as servant‐led exhibited higher levels of both leader trust and organizational trust than organizations perceived as non‐servant‐led.Originality/value – The findings lend support to Greenleaf's view that servant leadership is an antecedent of leader and organizational trust, and to aspects of other servant leadership models.
Back to Buxton

A creative essay exploring efforts towards racial integration in an Iowa mining town and in an Iowa college town a hundred years later.
A new genus and species of early Eocene (Ypresian) Artiodactyla (Mammalia), Gagadon minimonstrum, from Bitter Creek, Wyoming, U.S.A.

Samples of artiodactyl fossil populations from the early Eocene of North America provide one of the best data sets for studying long-term evolutionary patterns and relationships of groups above th...
Defining features of the hair cell mechanoelectrical transducer channel

This review summarizes current knowledge of the hair cell mechanotransducer channel, the ion channel responsible for detecting mechanical stimuli in the inner ear and one of the few channels whose molecular structure is still unknown. Several candidate proteins have been proposed, especially members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel family, but all have so far failed in one test or another. Furthermore, none has biophysical properties exactly matching the native channel. The defining features of the native mechanotransducer channel are documented, including ionic permeability, channel structure inferred from blocking agents, diversity in channel conductance, and regulation by Ca2+, which are compared with a potential candidate, TRP channels of the polycystin family. The strengths and weaknesses of a TRP channel contender are discussed.
Plastic deformation of invar alloys

Abstract Heavy cold-rolling (95% reduction) of a 64Fe36Ni Invar alloy results in a decrease in magnetization and magnetic hyperfine field at the Fe nucleus, and an increase in electrical resistivity and x-ray line width. These changes are explained by a transition of iron atoms from a high volume-high spin electronic configuration to a low volume-low spin configuration during the deformation process.
FRED BASOLO: A TRIBUTE FOR COMMENTS ON INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Fred Basolo, the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, at Northwestern University died 27 February 2007 at the age of 87. He was born 11 February 1920 in the small south...
Nectin-1/HveC Mediates herpes simplex virus type 1 entry into primary human sensory neurons and fibroblasts

Immunocytochemistry detects nectin-1/HveC, nectin-2/HveB, and HVEM/HveA on the surface of sensory neurons and fibroblasts grown as primary cultures from human dorsal root ganglia. Viral entry into these cultured cells was assayed by infection with a recombinant herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) expressing green fluorescent protein. Soluble, truncated nectin-1 polypeptide, as well as polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against nectin-1, inhibited infection of neurons, whereas polypeptides and antibodies capable of inhibiting HSV-1 interaction with nectin-2 and herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) failed to prevent infection of neuronal cells. These results demonstrate that nectin-1 is the primary receptor for HSV-1 entry into human fetal neurons. Viral entry into fibroblasts was also reduced by soluble nectin-1 but not by soluble HVEM. However, in contrast to the results obtained with neurons, antibodies against receptors failed to inhibit entry into fibroblasts, indicating that unlike neurons, fibroblasts have multiple receptors or mechanisms for HSV-1 entry.
Gene expression changes in the nucleus accumbens of alcohol-preferring rats following chronic ethanol consumption.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effects of binge-like alcohol drinking on gene expression changes in the nucleus accumbens (ACB) of alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Adult male P rats were given ethanol under multiple scheduled access (MSA; three 1-h dark cycle sessions/day) conditions for 8 weeks. For comparison purposes, a second ethanol drinking group was given continuous/daily alcohol access (CA; 24 h/day). A third group was ethanol-naive (W group). Average ethanol intakes for the CA and MSA groups were approximately 9.5 and 6.5 g/kg/day, respectively. Fifteen hours after the last drinking episode, rats were euthanized, the brains extracted, and the ACB dissected. RNA was extracted and purified for microarray analysis. The only significant differences were between the CA and W groups (p
A knowledge based aircraft-gate assignment advisor

Abstract An expert system based solution to the aircraft-gate assignment problem is discussed. The prototype system developed works as a planning tool. It assists in the strategic planning of schedules and with projected aircraft-gate assignments.
Mechanisms of persistent atrial fibrillation

Purpose of reviewAtrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia, but its mechanisms are poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the factors that contribute to the establishment of persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation. This review addresses possible common signalin
Epinephrine-induced increase in glucose turnover is diminished during sepsis

Abstract The responsiveness of septic rats to epinephrine-induced alterations in carbohydrate metabolism was studied. Nonlethal sepsis was produced by subcutaneous injections of live Escherichia coli over 18 hours in conscious catheterized rats. Glucose kinetics were assessed by IV infusion of [6- 3 H]-glucose. After two hours of tracer infusion, blood samples were taken for basal values. Thereafter, epinephrine was infused at 0, 0.05, 0.2, or 1.0 μg/min/kg for an additional four hours. Compared with nonseptic rats, septic animals had increased basal values for glucose rate of appearance (Ra, 63%), glucose clearance (86%), and plasma lactate concentration (133%). Infusion of epinephrine resulted in dose-dependent increases in glucose Ra, as well as plasma glucose and lactate concentrations, and decreases in glucose clearance and muscle glycogen content. At each dose of epinephrine, the increases in response from basal of plasma glucose and glucose Ra in septic rats were 50% or less of that observed in nonseptic animals. There were no differences between septic and nonseptic rats in plasma lactate and glucose clearance responses from basal or in circulating levels of catecholamines achieved during the epinephrine infusion. The present results indicate that septic rats are less responsive than control animals to epinephrine-induced increases in glucose turnover.
Behavioral and physiological responses of Diaeretiella rapae to semiochemicals

Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizes many aphid species, including cabbage aphids on cruciferous crops and Russian wheat aphids on cereal crops. We investigated the olfactory perception of D. rapae to semiochemicals that may be encountered in these two environments while searching for hosts or for mates. We conducted electroantennogram and flight-tunnel experiments on male and female D. rapae and found marked differences between sexes. Cruciferous volatiles elicited physiological and behavioral responses by females but not by males. Males and females responded similarly to (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, a component of green-leaf volatiles, in both electroantennogram and flight-tunnel assays. Female wasps responded similarly regardless of prior oviposition experience or population origin. Likewise, mating history and aphid presence did not increase responsiveness toward these semiochemicals.
Potentilla basaltica (Rosaceae), a new species from Nevada

Potentilla basaltica Tiehm & Ertter is described, illustrated and compared to other members of theMultijugae group,P. newberryi, andIvesia. The leaf form and small flowers are reminiscent ofIvesia, indicating a possible new link between the two genera.
Improving emergency storm planning using machine learning

Extreme weather events pose significant challenges to power utilities as they require very rapid decision making regarding expected storm impact and necessary storm response efforts. In recent years National Grid has responded to a large number of events in its Massachusetts service territory including Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy. National Grid, along with MIT, has built a statistical model which predicts localized interruption patterns based on weather forecasts, asset information, historical damage patterns, and geography. National Grid expects that this will become an important tool in its emergency response preparations. This paper will discuss the predictive model which will aid National Grid in its preventative emergency planning efforts. A machine learning predictive algorithm was built by considering physical properties of the network, historical weather data, and environmental information to predict outages, and ultimately damage, based on weather forecasts. The machine learning algorithm will continuously improve in granularity and accuracy through its continued use and the incorporation of additional information. As a data-driven model it provides an invaluable tool for decision making before a storm, which is currently motivated primarily by intuition from industry experience.
Scientific Review: Total Neutron Scattering Cross Sections

Many neutron scatterers believe (or assume) that the total neutron scattering cross section of a sample (i.e., the cross section that is used to estimate quantities such as transmission, single and multiple scattering probabilities, and self-shielding) is equal to a sum of bound atom scattering cross sections, weighted according to the chemical composition of the sample. This may be acceptably close to the truth for many materials much of the time, but in general, it is not true and sometimes it is very far from the truth.
Bridging the Generations: A Retrospective Examination of Adults' Relationships with Their Kinship Caregivers

Despite continued growth in the number of kinship care families, little is known about the experiences of the children. This retrospective study, which was informed by the perspective of intergenerational ambivalence, examined how adults who were raised by grandparents or great-grandparents experienced their relationships with their caregivers. It also explored how these intergenerational relationships evolved over time and were influenced by the caregiving context. Participants included 20 adults whose grandparents or great-grandparents had been their primary caregivers for at least 5 years. Participation involved completing a semistructured, qualitative interview. Findings revealed both strengths and challenges in participants' relationships with their kinship caregivers. In terms of strengths, participants experienced intense emotional bonds to their caregivers that they equated to a parent-child relationship. They were grateful for these relationships and respected their kinship caregivers' efforts in...
Arbitrary femtosecond optical pulse shaping with a liquid crystal spatial light modulator

ABSTRACT Free space optical (FSO) communications technology has potential applications in the military sector to provide a secure, high speed communication channel, and in the civilian sect or as a last mile carrier solution. It was proposed by other researchers that a multi-rate communication system that utilizes Meyer wavelets would achieve the greatest bandwidth and highest reliability possible for an FSO system [1]. In order to generate Meyer wavelets from femtosecond laser pulses, filtering must be performed optically to produce the desired pulse sh ape. One of the simplest ways to produce an arbitrary pulse shape from a laser pulse is with a tunable liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) in a zero-dispersion pulse compressi on system. The simplest approach to determine the correct mask pattern for an LC-SLM is to utilize adaptive, global optimization methods. Since it takes several milliseconds to adjust the attributes of each pixel of an LC-SLM and there are typically over one-thousand pixels, it is important to determine the fastest algorithm for determining the optimum mask pattern. Several global optimization methods, including simulated annealing, exhaustive search, and random search, a hybrid of the other two algorithms, were characterized. It was found that exhaustive search can be used to form waveforms with ne gligible inaccuracies at rates of about 5 times faster than simulated annealing and about 3 times faster than random search, but that simulated annealing provides the highest accuracy. However, the difference in accuracy be tween all of these algorithms is less than 10
Optomechanical design of a modular K-B mirror mount system for x-ray microfocusing at the advanced photon source

Kirkpatrick-Baez (K-B) mirrors [1] are sophisticated x-ray micro- and nano-focusing tools for synchrotron radiation applications. A prototype of a modular x-ray K-B mirror mount system has been designed and tested at an optics testing beamline, 1-BM at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). This compact, costeffective modular mirror mount system is designed to meet challenging mechanical and optical specifications for producing high positioning resolution and stability for various scientific applications with focused hard x-ray beams down to the 100-nanometer scale. The optomechanical design of the modular x-ray K-B mirror mount system as well as the preliminary test results of its precision positioning performance are presented in this paper.
A positive feedback loop couples Ras activation and CD44 alternative splicing

The Ras signaling pathway is important in both cell proliferation and tumor progression. Alternatively spliced isoforms of CD44 containing variable exon 6 (v6) can serve as coreceptors for growth factor receptors that activate Ras. Here we use v6-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) to investigate the role of CD44 alternative splicing in Ras signaling. We identify a positive feedback loop in which Ras signaling promotes CD44v6 splicing, and CD44v6 then sustains late Ras signaling, which is important for cell cycle progression. These results are the first demonstration of a positive feedback loop linking signaling-dependent alternative splicing to mitogenic progression.
Simulations of rubella vaccination strategies in China

Many infants whose mothers have rubella infections during their first trimester of pregnancy have birth defects called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). China does not routinely vaccinate against rubella in the public sector, but may need to start as its 'one child per couple' policy changes the population age distribution and the dynamics of rubella epidemiology, so that the incidence of rubella in pregnant women increases. Computer simulations with demographic transitions and rubella transmission dynamics predict that, with no or limited rubella vaccination, CRS incidence in China in the 30 years after 2020 will be more than twice the level in 2005. Comparisons of rubella vaccination strategies using computer simulations show that routine vaccination of over 80% of 1-year-old children would be effective in reducing total CRS cases in 2005-2051 and eliminating rubella in China by 2051. Routine immunizations at higher levels and the addition of early mass vaccinations of 2-14-year-old children and women of childbearing ages would further reduce total CRS cases and speed up the elimination of rubella.
Adverse reactions to radiocontrast media

C ONVENTIONAL IONIC radiocontrast media (RCM) have major importance in the practice of cardiology as well as in many areas of medicine and surgery. Radiocontrast media infusions are associated with a variety of adverse reactions’-‘; however, RCM usually are well tolerated. The availability of lower osmolality RCM, albeit at a tenfold increase in cost, may result in diminished numbers of patients experiencing nephrotoxic, ischemic, or immediate generalized reaction(s) (IGR). Contrast media reactions include IGR, the most serious reactions. Immediate generalized reactions mimic IgEmediated reactions (anaphylactic-type), with urticaria, angioedema, and varying degrees of hypotension, and are potentially fatal. Other types include vasomotor reactions, severe or lifethreatening, and fatal.6 Adverse reactions to RCM also include cardiovascular effects from injection of a hyperosmolar medium that can increase intravascular volume, decrease inotropy, especially in the presence of ischemic heart disease, and produce various deleterious electrophysiologic changes.‘-14 The purpose of this article is to review (1) types of adverse reactions to RCM (2) physiochemical features of high and lower osmolality RCM, (3) pathogenesis of IGR, and (4) effects of pretreatment regimens to decrease the frequency of repeated reactions in high-risk patients.
The Change of Functional Connectivity Specificity in Rats Under Various Anesthesia Levels and its Neural Origin

Spatiotemporal correlations of spontaneous blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals measured in the resting brain have been found to imply many resting-state coherent networks under both awake/conscious and anesthetized/unconscious conditions. To understand the resting-state brain networks in the unconscious state, spontaneous BOLD signals from the rat sensorimotor cortex were studied across a wide range of anesthesia levels induced by isoflurane. Distinct resting-state networks covering functionally specific sub-regions of the sensorimotor system were observed under light anesthesia with 1.0 % isoflurane; however, they gradually merged into a highly synchronized and spatially less-specific network under deep anesthesia with 1.8 % isoflurane. The EEG power correlations recorded using three electrodes from a separate group of rats showed similar dependency on anesthesia depth, suggesting the neural origin of the change in functional connectivity specificity. The specific-to-less-specific transition of resting-state networks may reflect a functional reorganization of the brain at different anesthesia levels or brain states.
On the performance and energy-efficiency of multi-core SIMD CPUs and CUDA-enabled GPUs

This paper explores the performance and energy efficiency of CUDA-enabled GPUs and multi-core SIMD CPUs using a set of kernels and full applications. Our implementations efficiently exploit both SIMD and thread-level parallelism on multi-core CPUs and the computational capabilities of CUDA-enabled GPUs. We discuss general optimization techniques for our CPU-only and CPU-GPU platforms. To fairly study performance and energy-efficiency, we also used two applications which utilize several kernels. Finally, we present an evaluation of the implementation effort required to efficiently utilize multi-core SIMD CPUs and CUDA-enabled GPUs for the benchmarks studied. Our results show that kernel-only performance and energy-efficiency could be misleading when evaluating parallel hardware; therefore, true results must be obtained using full applications. We show that, after all respective optimizations have been made, the best performing and energy-efficient platform varies for different benchmarks. Finally, our results show that PPEH (Performance gain Per Effort Hours), our newly introduced metric, can affectively be used to quantify efficiency of implementation effort across different benchmarks and platforms.
Civilization and Its Discontents in the 21st Century: Freud, Shakespeare, and Romantic Love

Four of the most recognized lines in the English language are spoken in Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet: O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if...
Simultaneous solutions to diagonal equations over finite fields

Abstract An elementary proof of the Weil conjectures is given for the special case of a non-singular pair of diagonal equations over a finite field. The number of simultaneous solutions to an arbitrary number of diagonal equations over GF(q) is also estimated by the same classical methods.
Enhanced absorption of light due to multiple surface-plasmon-polariton waves

Rigorous coupled-wave analysis was used to compute the absorptance of a metallic surface-relief grating coated with a semiconductor layer. The grating is formed by periodic bumps on an otherwise planar layer of a suitable metal. When the period of the surface-relief grating is appropriate, at a certain incidence angle the incident light excites a p-polarized surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) wave if the semiconductor layer is homogeneous. However, if the semiconductor layer is periodically non-homogeneous normal to the mean metal/semiconductor interface, more than one SPP waves with different polarization states, phase speeds, and attenuation rates can be excited. The use of a periodically nonhomogeneous semiconductor layer for excitation of multiple SPP waves with different polarization states, phase speeds, and attenuation rates can help enhance light absorption in thin-film solar cells.
Influence of plant age on calcium stimulated ammonium absorption by radish and onion

Abstract The efficient use of N for crop production is important because N is normally the most expensive fertilizer input. Past research has suggested that Ca++ can be used to stimulate NH4+ absorption by plants. The importance of plant growth stage in relation to this phenomenon has not been examined previously. The objectives of this study were to examine Ca++ ‐ stimulated NH4 + absorption and to examine the effect of Ca++ concentration on N content and growth in plant tops, bulbs and roots at different growth stages. Ammonium absorption experiments were conducted in the greenhouse in 4‐L pots containing 3.5 kg of calcareous Gila sandy loam (Typic Torrifluvents) (CEC <1 cMol kg−1). Plants (Radish, Raphanus sativas L., and onion, Allium cepa L.) were grown with a uniform nutrient solution (1/2 strength nutrient solution, all N as NO3) to the desired growth stage at which time the soil was leached with deionized water. Afterwards, the soils were fertilized with 1/2 strength nutrient solutions (5 mol m−3 ...
Topology-Aware quality-of-service support in highly integrated chip multiprocessors

Power limitations and complexity constraints demand modular designs, such as chip multiprocessors (CMPs) and systems-on-chip (SOCs). Today's CMPs feature up to a hundred discrete cores, with greater levels of integration anticipated in the future. Supporting effective on-chip resource sharing for cloud computing and server consolidation necessitates CMP-level quality-of-service (QOS) for performance isolation, service guarantees, and security. This work takes a topology-aware approach to on-chip QOS. We propose to segregate shared resources into dedicated, QOS-enabled regions of the chip. We than eliminate QOS-related hardware and its associated overheads from the rest of the die via a combination of topology and operating system support. We evaluate several topologies for the QOS-enabled regions, including a new organization called Destination Partitioned Subnets (DPS) which uses a light-weight dedicated network for each destination node. DPS matches or bests other topologies with comparable bisection bandwidth in performance, area- and energy-efficiency, fairness, and preemption resilience.
Maximum Sustainable Yield Lives On

Abstract I examined 142 papers published from 1977 through 1985 that used the concept of maximum sustainable yield (MSY). I classified them as to how MSY was used, year of publication, subject, and publication forum. The primary uses of MSY were in estimating long-term yield (28.9%), evaluating stock condition (28.2%), and analyzing policy (21.8%). The number of such publications declined significantly (P 0.05) in the application of MSY to fish or in policy analysis. The reasons for the continued use of MSY were varied but fell into two broad categories. First, it is a simple concept that is readily understood by the fishing industry, administrators, and managers. Second, it is used by management in attempting to predict the consequences of harvesting activities on fish populations. There seems to be no operational rival to MSY. Thus, from a mangement standpoint it is impo...
Light emitting diode based flow-through optical absorption detectors

Abstract Simple inexpensive high performance optical absorption detectors are possible using light emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources. The designs presented in the literature are reviewed. Designs used by the investigators are described in detail with respect to construction, electronic design, performance and cost; these have not previously been described in the literature. Characteristics of commercially available LEDs are tabulated. At the simple end, a single beam, dc driven, transmittance output detector can be constructed within the body of a LED. At the high performance end, fully referenced, computer interfaced detectors are described that are pulsed at high speeds to attain measurement standard deviations in the range of 2–3 × 10−6 absorbance.
In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy : A probe of cathode materials for Li-ion cells

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a powerful emerging technique that has the capability to observe the changes in ongoing electrochemical reactions. It is already well established in materials science, and it is becoming a significant tool for the electrochemical community. As with all X-ray absorption spectroscopies, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) has the advantage of being element specific. Interpretation of the spectra at different states of charge can provide very useful quantitative and qualitative information about the valence change of the constituent elements in the cathode material during the ongoing electrochemical reaction, the degree of distortion or changes in structure from the initial state of charge to the final state of charge and provide valuable information about the extent of degradation of the cathode material during continuous cycling. It can also provide valuable insight about how the nature of the electrochemical reactions changes when one of the transition metal constituents is removed or increased in content in the cathode material. It is often important to adjust the composition of the cathode material in order to achieve high specific capacity and long-term stability in Li-ion cells. This article details the development of the in situ XAS techniques to study electrochemical reactions using various X-ray absorption spectroscopies which are now possible with the advent of third generation synchrotron radiation sources and improved end stations. The strength of in situ EXAFS techniques is illustrated using examples of various interesting transition metal oxides. In this way, we aim to encourage chemists, chemical engineers and materials scientists to consider in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy as an effective tool for developing an understanding the electronic structure of materials and the changes that it undergoes during electrochemical reactions.