cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous measurement of intracellular calcium and tension in vascular smooth muscle: Validation of the everted ring preparation

Abstract This study details and validates a method that facilitates the eversion of vascular smooth muscle, a preparation employed in in vitro Ca 2+ fluorometric assays. Vascular segments of porcine coronary artery, approximately 2 cm in length, were sutured to portions of polyethylene tubing inserted into the lumen of the vessel. After being secured and stabilized by the tubing, the vessel was easily everted while immersed in physiological buffer. Intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca 2+ ]i) and tension were measured simultaneously in everted rings denuded of the endothelium. In these preparations, increases in tension generated by KCl and prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) were accompanied by increases in [Ca 2+ ]i, as measured by fura-2 fluorescence. Isoproterenol (ISO) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) elicited reductions in muscle tension as well as [Ca 2+ ]i in both KCl- and PGF 2α -contracted rings. Comparison of the responsiveness of everted and uneverted coronary artery rings demonstrated that, while fura-2 fluorescence in uneverted rings was negligible, the magnitudes of contraction of both preparations to KCl or PGF 2α were similar. The relaxant responses to ISO and SNP were also similar in the everted and uneverted rings contracted with KCl or PGF 2α . The data suggest that the procedure employed in everting vascular segments maintains the integrity of the smooth muscle, thus making it a suitable model for the simultaneous measurement of [Ca 2+ ]i and tension.
A quantitative method for measuring the adherence of group B streptococci to murine peritoneal exudate macrophages.

Abstract We have developed a solid phase, direct binding, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect and quantify the adherence of group B streptococci to murine macrophages. The assay correlated well with direct microscopic quantification of adherence. As few as 3.8 × 10 4 bacteria/assay well or less than one bacterium per macrophage could be detected. This assay is both quantitative and selective, and is readily adaptable for multiple sample analysis. It provides a valuable alternative to visual detection of bacterial adherence.
Pituitary weight and gonadotrophin concentration, body weight and ovarian weight in growing and mature female Turkeys exposed to different light regimens

Synopsis Anterior pituitary weights and gonado‐trophin concentration, body weight changes and ovarian weights were followed every two weeks in three lighting treatment periods in spring hatched turkeys. In the growing period (12 to 20 weeks of age), all of the characters changed with the increasing age of the birds while no changes were associated with the lighting treatments (either 14 hr of light daily or natural daylight). During the conditioning period (20 to 28 weeks) anterior pituitary weight, body weight change and ovarian weight all increased with increasing age. No changes were found in anterior pituitary gonadotrophin concentration. Body weight change and ovarian weight were also greater in birds maintained on range as compared with birds treated with 6 or 14 hr of light daily. In the production period (28 to 40 weeks), the birds were divided into laying and non‐laying groups. In the laying group, no differences were found in the three characters studied (ovarian weight not included) within the ...
Phosphate-binding effects of sucralfate in patients with chronic renal failure.

Sucralfate has been reported to reduce serum phosphate concentration in patients with chronic renal failure. To evaluate whether sucralfate could be used to treat hype rphosphatemia secondary to chronic renal failure and whether this treatment resulted in a reduced exposure to aluminum, an open-label crossover study was designed to determine the efficacy, relative potency, safety, and cost of sucralfate v aluminum hydroxide. Of the 21 hemodialysis patients completing both phases of the crossover study, serum phosphate could be maintained below 4.5 mg/dL (1.45 mmol/L) in 16 with sucralfate and in 14 with aluminum hydroxide. The 16 patients controlled on sucralfate consumed 1,694 ± 190 mg/d of aluminum to maintain a serum phosphate concentration of 3.91 ± 0.17 mg/dL (1.27 ± 0.05 mmol/L) compared with the 14 patients controlled on aluminum hydroxide with, an aluminum intake of 2,678 ± 294 mg/d ( P
The value of liver scan in management of cancer of the large bowel.

Our experience with 118 patients who underwent 123 consecutive liver scans has been reviewed. The accuracy of preoperative liver scanning, as well as other liver function tests, was assessed subsequently at laparotomy, at autopsy or by biopsy. Liver scanning predicted liver metastasis correctly in 72.0 per cent of cases, and alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 50.0 per cent of those patients who had metastatic liver disease.
A comparison of newborn stylized and tomographic models for dose assessment in paediatric radiology

Establishment of organ doses from diagnostic and interventional examinations is a key component to quantifying the radiation risks from medical exposures and for formulating corresponding dose-reduction strategies. Radiation transport models of human anatomy provide a convenient method for simulating radiological examinations. At present, two classes of models exist: stylized mathematical models and tomographic voxel models. In the present study, organ dose comparisons are made for projection radiographs of both a stylized and a tomographic model of the newborn patient. Sixteen separate radiographs were simulated for each model at x-ray technique factors typical of newborn examinations: chest, abdomen, thorax and head views in the AP, PA, left LAT and right LAT projection orientation. For AP and PA radiographs of the torso (chest, abdomen and thorax views), the effective dose assessed for the tomographic model exceeds that for the stylized model with per cent differences ranging from 19% (AP abdominal view) to 43% AP chest view. In contrast, the effective dose for the stylized model exceeds that for the tomographic model for all eight lateral views including those of the head, with per cent differences ranging from 9% (LLAT chest view) to 51% (RLAT thorax view). While organ positioning differences do exist between the models, a major factor contributing to differences in effective dose is the models' exterior trunk shape. In the tomographic model, a more elliptical shape is seen thus providing for less tissue shielding for internal organs in the AP and PA directions, with corresponding increased tissue shielding in the lateral directions. This observation is opposite of that seen in comparisons of stylized and tomographic models of the adult.
Potential impacts of ocean acidification on the Puget Sound food web

Ecosystem impacts of ocean acidification (OA) were explored by imposing scenarios designed to mimic OA on a food web model of Puget Sound, a large estuary in northwestern USA. The productivity of functional groups containing mostly calcifiers was decreased while still allowing other species groups to respond to the scenarios in a dynamic way through indirect effects. Results focus on changes in ecosystem services and structure. Sometimes the direct and indirect effects of OA countered each other due to interactions between predators and prey within the food web, leading to little change in the food web. In other cases, direct and indirect effects caused greater change in the food web than anticipated from direct effects alone. Results were strongly affected by the group on which OA was directly imposed, with changes in copepod productivity being the most influential. While there is much uncertainty in our predictions, focusing on the complex interactions among species, and between species and their environment, will yield better understanding of how ecosystems may respond to OA.
Molecular profiling of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma

Background Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma remains a poorly characterized malignancy at both the clinical and molecular level, and consequently the optimal treatment strategy remains undefined.
The Relative Effectiveness of Alternative Job Sources

Abstract Vocational research has focused on the occupational choice process and the individual's adjustment to work. Very little research has examined the job search process in which the individual must engage in order to implement occupational choices. This study examines one dimension of the job search process: the relationship between job source and subsequent work experiences. The data reveal that when the respondents initially entered the labor market, those relying on formal job sources tended to work in higher-level occupations and in jobs more closely related to their training than their counterparts who used other job sources. In the longer run, the labor market advantages associated with the use of formal job sources dissipated for the engineering majors but tended to persist for the business alumni.
High quality protein microarray using in situ protein purification.

Background In the postgenomic era, high throughput protein expression and protein microarray technologies have progressed markedly permitting screening of therapeutic reagents and discovery of novel protein functions. Hexa-histidine is one of the most commonly used fusion tags for protein expression due to its small size and convenient purification via immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). This purification process has been adapted to the protein microarray format, but the quality of in situ His-tagged protein purification on slides has not been systematically evaluated. We established methods to determine the level of purification of such proteins on metal chelate-modified slide surfaces. Optimized in situ purification of His-tagged recombinant proteins has the potential to become the new gold standard for cost-effective generation of high-quality and high-density protein microarrays.
Cross-Term Forwarding for Systems With Time Delay

This paper presents a Lyapunov-based control design method for nonlinear systems with time delay. The key step is construction of a composite Lyapunov functionalV for a stable cascade. This functional consists of Lyapunov functionals for the subsystems and a cross-term defined by an infinite integral. The ldquoL g V-typerdquo control law is then employed to achieve global asymptotic stability. The design procedure can be applied recursively to stabilize complex feedforward structures. When applied to a linear cascade, it gives a formula for the control law even if some parts of the system can only be stabilized through channels with multiple non-commensurate or distributed delays.
Hyperbaric oxygen downregulates ICAM-1 expression induced by hypoxia and hypoglycemia: the role of NOS.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is being studied as a therapeutic intervention for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We have developed an in vitro endothelial cell model of I/R injury to study the impact ...
Ultrastructure and histochemistry of the supportive structures associated with the radula of the slug, Limax maximus

The odontophore and connective tissue-filled portion of the radular sac (called the "collostyle") of the slug, Limax maximus, were examined by light and electron microscopy. While both of these structures grossly resemble vertebrate cartilage, neither is composed of a type of tissue with the microscopic appearance and histochemical properties of cartilage. The roughly U-shaped odontophore possesses a thin capsule composed of connective tissue. The parenchyma of the odontophore consists of modified muscle cells which are organized into irregular groups by incomplete trabeculae composed of conventional muscle cells. The odontophoral cells are variable in size; they contain glycogen-filled "cores" as well as bundles of peripherally located filaments resembling myofilaments; and they are innervated like muscle cells. The nuclei of the cells are located eccentrically in the glycogen-filled portions of the cells and typically contain prominent nucleoli. The nuclei are surrounded by multiple small Golgi complexes and pleomorphic dense bodies resembling lysosomes. The extracellular matrix of the odontophore is very sparse and contains glycogen and fibrillar material but no histochemically demonstrable acidic mucosubstances. The collostyle consists of a gelatinous type of tissue somewhat like vertebrate mucoid connective tissue. The abundant extracellular matrix contains cross-banded filaments, a flocculent material disposed in wavy indefinite strands, and small electron-dense particles. The matrix contains histochemically demonstrable neutral and weakly acidic mucosubstances. The cell population of the collostyle includes solitary muscle cells and fibrocytes containing large quantities of glycogen.
Stable Models of Fuzzy Propositional Formulas

We introduce the stable model semantics for fuzzy propositional formulas, which generalizes both fuzzy propositional logic and the stable model semantics of Boolean propositional formulas. Combining the advantages of both formalisms, the introduced language allows highly configurable default reasoning involving fuzzy truth values. We show that several properties of Boolean stable models are naturally extended to this formalism, and discuss how it is related to other approaches to combining fuzzy logic and the stable model semantics.
Ebola and its Discontents

In the wake of the Ebola outbreak, the editorial board curators of this special section ask three interdisciplinary scholars to reflect on the global pandemic.
Textured occupancy grids for monocular localization without features

A textured occupancy grid map is an extremely versatile data structure. It can be used to render human-readable views and for laser rangefinder localization algorithms. For camera-based localization, landmark or feature-based maps tend to be favored in current research. This may be because of a tacit assumption that working with a textured occupancy grid with a camera would be impractical. We demonstrate that a textured occupancy grid can be combined with an extremely simple monocular localization algorithm to produce a viable localization solution. Our approach is simple, efficient, and produces localization results comparable to laser localization results. A consequence of this result is that a single map representation, the textured occupancy grid, can now be used for humans, robots with laser rangefinders, and robots with just a single camera.
Late-stage estuary infilling controlled by limited accommodation space in the Hudson River

High-resolution seismic data and sediment cores reveal the late Holocene subsurface stratigraphy of the broad Tappan Zee– Piermont region of the Hudson River Estuary. We identify a series of distinct, extensive horizons beneath the marginal flats, channel banks, and main channel in this area. Physical properties and lithology from sediment cores suggest that these horizons are surfaces of erosion or nondeposition. Radiocarbon dates indicate that they correspond with three distinct time horizons, with maximum ages of 3400, 2200, and 1600 yr BP. We also distinguish two sedimentary facies that occupy the marginal flats and channel banks. The deeper facies forms a deposit 2 km wide and 7 km long that accumulated at rates of 2–4 mm/yr in the vicinity of the Sparkill Creek prior to ∼1700 yr BP, overlying and onlapping the 2200 yr BP seismic surface. Based on its internal geometry, morphology, and proximity to a tributary, we interpret this facies as a delta deposit. The shallower facies accumulated more slowly (1–2 mm/yr), overlying the delta deposit to the south and dominating the marginal flats to the north. Surface sediment samples and geophysical data reveal that the modern marginal flats are no longer actively depositional, but dominated by nondeposition or erosion. Limited accommodation space in the Hudson River Estuary may be the critical factor contributing to the observed sedimentary pattern, characterized by intervals of deposition punctuated by episodes of erosion. An estuarine system that has reached a state of morphological equilibrium will be sensitive to even small fluctuations in sea-level and climate conditions, which may account for the intervals of deposition and erosion we observe. Limited accommodation space and intermittent sediment deposition in the Hudson River Estuary may be due to its evolution from a fjord filled with glacial lake sediments, which distinguishes its infilling behavior from the classic drowned river valley estuary.
The Transformative Power of Narrative in Second Language Teacher Education

Within the field of second language teacher education (SLTE), narrative has largely functioned as a vehicle for teacher inquiry, based on the assumption that such inquiry will ultimately bring about productive change in teachers and their teaching practices. Less attention has been paid to documenting what this change looks like or how engagement in narrative activities fosters teacher professional development. From a Vygotskian sociocultural theoretical perspective, we argue that the transformative power of narrative lies in its ability to ignite cognitive processes that can foster teacher professional development. We tease out the complex ways in which narrative functions as a mediational tool—narrative as externalization, verbalization, and systematic examination—in fostering teacher professional development, and we highlight the interplay between these functions by tracing teacher professional development in two teacher-authored narrative inquiries. We then turn to the centrality of narrative as a vehicle for teacher inquiry in transforming the field of SLTE itself. Specifically, we highlight various outlets, in both center and periphery contexts, where the products of teachers' narrative activities are functioning as a tool for knowledge-building and professional development practices that are working in consort to transform the professional landscape that constitutes the field of SLTE.
The impact of variations in membrane capacitance on the detected neural-electronic signal

There have been various theoretical and experimental studies presented in the literature that focus on interfacing neurons with discrete electronic devices such as transistors. The demonstrated lack of reproducible fidelity of the nerve cell action potential at the device junction would make it impractical to implement these devices in any neural prosthetic application where reliable detection of the action potential was a pre-requisite. In this study, the impact of typical variations in membrane capacitance on the detected neural signal is investigated.
Modeling Work Occupational Messages in Seventeen Magazine

How do adolescent girls envision the world of work and their potential place in it? This article considers teen magazines as a possible source for girls’ perceptions about the work world, including their own career futures. The author explores the occupational landscape embedded with in Seventeen magazinein 1992 in both quantitative and qualitative terms. The labor market in Seventeen-land is heavily skewed toward professional occupations, particularly in the entertainment industry. A close reading of the text reveals four primary messages about the world of work: Entertainment careers are a viable and prestigious option, men are the norm as workers, men hold the power, and fashion modeling is the pinnacle of “women’s work. ” The author argues that Seventeen may be promulgating a distinct set of what Collins called “controlling images” directed at predominantly white girls. The findings suggest gender researchers should attend to the connection between the mass media and girl culture. They also underscore...
Sequencing of Concurrent Communication Traffic in a Mesh Multicomputer with Virtual Channels

Under the fixed-path e-cube routing in mesh multicomputers, we evaluate the performance of several low-overhead packet sequencing and flit multiplexing methods. In the presence of concurrent inter-node communication traffic, we found that unless proper packet sequencing is employed, adding more communication resources, such as links and buffers, can actually degrade the network performance. A good packet-sequencing policy combined with proper flit multiplexing is shown to improve performance by more than 30%.
Epicardial Radiofrequency Ablation Failure During Ablation Procedures for Ventricular Arrhythmias Reasons and Implications for Outcomes

Background —Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) from the epicardial space for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is limited or impossible in some cases. Reasons for epicardial ablation failure and the impact on outcome have not been systematically analyzed. Methods and Results —We assessed reasons for epicardial RFA failure relative to the anatomical target area and the type of heart disease, and assessed the impact of failed epicardial RFA on outcome after ablation procedures for VAs in a large single-center cohort. Epicardial access was attempted during 309 ablation procedures in 277 patients, and was achieved in 291 procedures (94%). Unlimited ablation in an identified target region could be performed in 181 cases (59%), limited ablation was possible in 22 cases (7%), and epicardial ablation was deemed not feasible in 88 cases (28%). Reasons for failed or limited ablation were unsuccessful epicardial access (6%), failure to identify an epicardial target (15%), proximity to a coronary artery (13%), proximity to the phrenic nerve (6%) and complications (<1%). Epicardial RFA was impeded in the majority of cases targeting the left ventricular (LV) summit region. Acute complications occurred in 9%. The risk for acute ablation failure was 8.3 times higher (4.5-15.0, p <0.001) after no or limited epicardial RFA compared to unlimited RFA and patients with unlimited epicardial RFA had better recurrence-free-survival rates ( p <0.001). Conclusions —Epicardial RFA for ventricular arrhythmias is often limited even when pericardial access is successful. Variability of success is dependent on the target area and the presence of factors limiting ablation is associated with worse outcomes.
Reasoning on the Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices Test with Iconic Visual Representations

Although the problems on Raven’s Progressive Matrices intelligence tests resemble geometric analogies, studies of human behavior suggest the existence of two qualitatively distinct types of strategies: verbal strategies that use propositional representations and visual strategies that use iconic representations. However, all prior computational models implemented to solve these tests have modeled only verbal strategies: they translate problems into purely propositional representations. We examine here the other half of what may be a dual-process mechanism of reasoning in humans: visual strategies that use iconic representations. In particular, we present two different algorithms that use iconic visual representations to address problems found on the Advanced Progressive Matrices test, the best of which yields performances at levels equivalent to the 75th percentile for human test takers aged from 20 to 62 years-old. We discuss implications of our work for understanding the computational nature of Raven’s and visual analogy in problem solving.
Forecasting Cash Price Volatility of Fed Cattle, Feeder Cattle, and Corn: Time Series, Implied Volatility, and Composite Approaches

Considerable research effort has focused on the forecasting of asset return volatility. Debate in this area centers around the performance of time series models, in particular GARCH, relative to implied volatility from observed option premiums. Existing literature suggests that the performance of any volatility forecast is sensitive to both the data and forecast horizon of interest. This paper rigorously examines the performance of several alternative volatility forecasts for fed cattle, feeder cattle, and corn cash price returns. Forecasts include time series, implied volatility, and composite specifications. The results provide considerable insight into the performance of these alternative volatility forecasting procedures over a range of relevant forecast horizons. The evidence suggests that composite methods be used when both time series and implied volatilities are available. Insight is also gained into the performance of procedures used for scaling one-period volatility forecasts to longer horizons. However, consistent with the existing volatility forecasting literature, this research confirms the difficulty in finding a "best" volatility forecasting method across alternative data sets and horizons.
Classroom and Grade Level Differences in the Stability of Teacher Expectations and Perceived Differential Teacher Treatment

Using two independent samples of urban elementary school children from Grades 1, 3, and 5, this study explored the long-term stability of classroom learning environments that differ in the extent of differential teacher treatment favoring high achievers over low achievers, as reported by students. Classroom differences ('high' versus 'low') in perceived differential treatment were highly stable from fall to spring in Grades 3 and 5, but not in Grade 1. Stability in (a) individual children's reports of differential treatment, and (b) teacher expectations for children's year-end reading achievement was accentuated in classrooms where differential treatment was pronounced early in the year, particularly in the higher elementary grades. Findings suggest that there would be heightened risk for problematic teacher expectancy effects and other maladaptive learning outcomes in these classrooms, because stable or rigid performance expectations are coupled with classroom instructional patterns that consistently convey these expectations to children. In contrast, risk is likely to be reduced in classrooms where high and low achievers are treated more equitably in the eyes of children, because teachers' expectations for children are more flexible, and children take longer to discern differences in treatment. The overall consistency of findings in two samples supports the generalizability of the conclusions reached.
The Nature of the Induction Process

“You are going into a deep, sound sleep,” the stage hypnotist intones. “Every word that I utter is putting you faster and faster into a deep, sound sleep. …” After a few moments, the subject is handed a raw onion and told that it is an apple, whereupon he proceeds to eat it with evident enjoyment.
How the Written Constitution Crowds Out the Extraconstitutional Rule of Recognition

In the Postscript to "The Concept of Law, "H.L.A. Hart explains that the rule of recognition (RoR) "is in effect a form of judicial customary rule existing only if it is accepted and practiced in the law-identifying and law-applying operations of the courts." Yet many scholars read the main text of "The Concept of Law" to imply that the practices of government officials generally, and not only judges, comprise the rule of recognition. Matthew Adler uses this ambiguity in Hart's theory to shed light on an important question in contemporary American constitutional theory: To what extent do and should the constitutional views of judges, elected officials, and the People themselves establish constitutional meaning?
Energy in Animal Ecology

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the relevance and interest of energetics to ecology. Energy is of major significance in ecological systems. Energy-rich organic sediments accumulate at a rate that is completely insignificant compared with the rate of energy fixation by green plants. This implies that the biosphere as a whole is energy limited, although individual decomposer populations may be temporarily limited by predators or other factors. The relation between energetics and the numerical properties of populations must be in terms of energy budget analysis in which the population is considered as a steady-state system through which potential energy passes. The chapter discusses the theory of energy budgets, entropy and information in ecology, Lindeman's classical study of energy-passage through a natural community and its theoretical formulation, Daphnia study of ecological energetic, and a few field studies that have any possibility of shedding relevant light on the value of ecological efficiency.
Thermal and Mechanical Design Aspects of the LIFE Engine

The Laser Inertial confinement fusion - Fission Energy (LIFE) engine encompasses the components of a LIFE power plant responsible for converting the thermal energy of fusion and fission reactions i...
Amino-acid transport into cultured tobacco cells : III. Arginine transport.

Arginine transport in suspension-cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin-38 was investigated. Cells that were preincubated in the presence of Ca2+ for 6 h prior to transport exhibited stimulated transport rates. After the preincubation treatment, initial rates of uptake were constant for at least 45 min. Arginine accumulated in the cells against a concentration gradient; this accumulation was not the result of exchange diffusion. Arginine uptake over a concentration range of 2.5 μM to 1 mM was characterized by simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of 0.1 mM and a Vmax of 9,000 nmol g-1 fresh weight h-1. Transport was inhibited by several compounds including carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol, N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and N-ethylmaleimide. Inhibition by these compounds was not the result of increased efflux resulting from membrane damage. A variety of amino acids and analogs, with the exception of D-arginine, inhibited transport, indicating that arginine transport was mediated by a general L-aminoacid permease. Competition experiments indicated that arginine and lysine exhibited cross-competition for transport, with Ki values similar to respective Km values. Arginine transport and low-affinity lysine transport are probably mediated by the same system in these cells.
Combining H/A/Alpha Polarimetric Decomposition of PolSAR Data with Image Classification for Wetland Identification: A Case Study of Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru

Unlike coastal wetlands, large tropical rivers' wetlands present a dry and flooded annual phase that follows the hydrologic pulse. Mapping such wetlands with passive remote sensors is challenging due to the dense tropical vegetation and cloud cover that block the understory water reflectance. In this study, we use NASA-JPL's full polarized UAVSAR-L-band PolSAR images to map wetlands during high water season in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in Peru, located between the Ucayali and Maranon rivers. Wetland identification was obtained in a two-step process. First, polarimetric matrices were extracted from the terrain-corrected raw images followed by polarimetric processing. Next, the H/A/Alpha decomposed parameters were used in an unsupervised classification to obtain five distinctive land cover classes. The results show that 69 percent of the reserve was flooded, 21 percent was upland forests, and open water comprised 10 percent. Results were compared with Global Forest Change, Google Earth, and Hess e...
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Graphene Silicon Oxide Nanocomposite Material

The primary objective of our work is to understand the nanocomposite structure of SiO2 coated over graphene (G) nanoplatelets. An attempt has been made to synthesize G-SiO2 nanocomposite using sol-gel technique. The G-SiO2 nanocomposite is characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and Electrochemical and Electrical measurement technique, respectively. The G-SiO2 nanocomposite reveals platelets characteristics much larger in size than the graphene nanoplatelets. The conductivity of G-SiO2 has been found to increase with an increase in the graphene ratio to SiO2 in nanocomposite material. The G-SiO2 has revealed interesting feature vibrational bands of graphene with SiO2 by varying the precursor of SiO2 with graphene moieties. The cyclic voltammetry studies have indicated the diffusion controlled system. The G-SiO2 nanocomposite shows interesting current-voltage characteristics with variation of graphene in nanocomposite. Our result is indicative of a transformable and viable G-SiO2 material for energy and electrical relay applications.
DESIGNING OPTIMAL SPACECRAFT FORMATIONS

*† ‡ We present a new approach to solving a class of problems arising in the architecting of satellite swarms. A key problem addressed in this paper is the “concurrent” design and control of orbits to achieve a swarm configuration. Although any design criterion may be used, we demonstrate our approach for fuel consumption since the premium for fuel is extraordinarily high for spacecraft. We show how certain elements of optimal periodic control theory provide a very natural setting for this problem. Using the general-purpose dynamic optimization software, DIDO, we show how satellite formations can easily be designed without the use of any analytical results. If a natural zero-propellant solution does not exist, the by-product of our approach automatically determines the minimum fuel and the associated controls required to maintain the formation configuration. Nomenclature *†‡ Subscripts: , f i - Final or Initial conditions, respectively , ul - Upper or Lower bounds, respectively ˆˆ ˆ ,, xy z - Formation Reference Frame axes
Effects of Competitive US House Races on Voters

We examine competitive US House elections and add to the mixed picture of the benefits and possible harm of competitive elections. Our results have implications for how rational choice and social-psychological models might be applied to the study of campaign effects. We suggest that the mechanisms that produce information in a competitive setting may not be wholly constructive, and rather, assume that voter perceptions are affected by campaigns that portray the other side as a threat. We find that district-level competition begets increased awareness of c ndidates, but this also means that Members of Congress in competitive districts are viewed more unfavorably. Incumbents and challengers in competitive districts are likewise seen as having less integrity. We also find that that respondents in competitive districts - where incumbents may be more ideologically centrist - are more likely to see wider policy differences between candidates. Furthermore, people in competitive districts are more likely to see themselves as strong partisans. That is, competitive elections may mobilize voters in part by accentuating (or exaggerating) what is at stake.
Enzymes of Tyrosine Metabolism

To date three enzyme activities in Drosophila have been described which function in tyrosine metabolism. These are phenol oxidase, dopa decarboxylase and dopamine-N-acetylase. These enzymes are relevant to several different functions, including melanization or black pigment formation, sclerotization and subsequent tanning, and possibly neural transmitter synthesis. These steps in the pathways are shown in Fig. 27. Melanin is formed by the oxidation of tyrosine to a quinone precursor of the indole subunits which make up melanin. Tyrosine is also a precursor for the as yet unidentified compound(s) which are involved in the hardening and darkening of the cuticle, enabling thg cuticle to serve as an effective exoskeleton. These steps, hardening and darkening, are closely related, and are referred to as sclerotization and tanning respectively. It is beyond our scope to consider in complete detail the extensive work that has been done on the structure and sclerotization of the cuticle. Mitchell et al. (1971) have recently described the structural changes which the cuticle undergoes during molting. Aspects of the biochemical process involved in sclerotization have been amply reviewed by Pryor (1962) and Brunet (1967). Although the details of sclerotization have not been studied extensively in Drosophila, analogies to other insects indicate some general patterns which occur during this process that may be expected to apply to Drosophila. Sclerotization involves reactions between amino groups of a cuticular protein and orthoquinones, which are produced by the action of an oxidase using dopa or some other metabolic derivative of tyrosine as a substrate. The resultant cross-linked quinone-protein structure is very rigid, and gives the insect cuticle its strength. The nature of the specific reacting protein is obscure, and details of its structure and function are unclear. The information available has been summarized by Brunet (1967). The reactant protein amino groups could be from N-terminal amino acids, or the epsilon amino groups of lysine.
Searching Over Subsystem Dissipativity Properties

The stability and performance tests in earlier chapters used a fixed dissipativity property for each subsystem. In this chapter, we take a more flexible approach and employ a conical combination of several dissipativity certificates known for each subsystem. Next, we take a more exhaustive approach and combine the stability and performance tests with a simultaneous search for feasible subsystem dissipativity properties. We employ the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm, a powerful distributed optimization technique, to decompose and solve this problem.
Hobby Lobby, RFRA, and Family Burdens

The Supreme Court held in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act sometimes requires that for-profit corporations be exempted from federal requirements that would have forced those corporations to act contrary to their sincerely held convictions. But the Hobby Lobby Court misrepresented free exercise jurisprudence and offered an implausible interpretation of RFRA, which if taken seriously would result in exemptions that neither members of the Court nor members of Congress would countenance. In the long run, Hobby Lobby will have to be narrowly construed but in the short run the decision is likely to cause even greater inconsistency in the law, satisfying neither the religious nor the non-religious.
SP0025 Complement Deficiencies and Rheumatic Diseases

The complement system is an integral part of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Although a wealth of insight into the function of the different complement proteins has been obtained by biochemical studies, real insight into the overall role of complement and specific complement proteins has been obtained by studying the rare cases of complete genetic deficiency observed in the human population. The detailed analyses of the clinical manifestations of persons genetically deficient for complement proteins identified some obvious aspects, but also several rather remarkable ones. For example the genetic deficiency of circulating C3 led to increased risk for several types of bacterial infections, but deficiency in C9, an essential component of the membrane attack complex (MAC) required for lysis did only predispose to one particular type of infections; with Neisseria . These data indicate that complement is involved in the immune defence against infections via C3, but that lysis by the MAC is except for Neisseria not so relevant. One other remarkable observations was the association between genetic deficiency for classical pathway complement proteins with autoimmunity, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sspecially striking is the observation that there is a hierarchy, within the pathway, with C1q being the strongest associated with SLE, followed by C4 and C2 with almost no association with C3 deficiency. How deficiency of classical pathway proteins contributes is not yet clear but seems to be the result of an interplay between decreased clearance of dead cells and an altered adaptive immune activation threshold. Recently we identified a new case of complete C1q deficiency and this child did not display signs of SLE (yet). We were struck by the absence of reports on follow-up data of the cases with reported C1q deficiency and conducted a questionnaire based study. From this study we could conclude that there is enormous variation in the severity of clinical symptoms between persons, with some being very affected leading to premature death and other individuals, sometimes from the same family, seemingly completely unaffected. These findings are relevant also in view of the developments of therapy as now haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has become a feasible option to treat such individuals. In this context we argue for a well-balanced evaluation of the pro9s and con9s of such treatment modalities in view of the variation in clinical symptoms and severity observed in these individuals. Disclosure of Interest None declared
Hard Ephemera: Textual Tactility and the Design of the Post-Digital Narrative in Chris Ware’s “Colorful Keepsake Box” and Other Non-Objects

As digital readers gained popularity at the beginning of the 21st century, newspaper headlines voiced a growing anxiety among many consumers: “Will E-Books Eliminate Physical Books?” The author argues that genres are migrating into digital media forms and thus now demand attention to the material conditions that engender them. She begins by questioning the lay theory that modern readers have ever cared much about the physiology of reading, and contends that consumers are just beginning to miss what they will no longer know when their hands can’t be a vehicle to it. Chris Ware’s innovative transformation in Building Stories (2012) of a book into a “colorful keepsake box” provides a case for theorizing an embodied literacy predicated upon the haptics of reading.
CaSPIAN: A Causal Compressive Sensing Algorithm for Discovering Directed Interactions in Gene Networks

We introduce a novel algorithm for inference of causal gene interactions, termed CaSPIAN (Causal Subspace Pursuit for Inference and Analysis of Networks), which is based on coupling compressive sensing and Granger causality techniques. The core of the approach is to discover sparse linear dependencies between shifted time series of gene expressions using a sequential list-version of the subspace pursuit reconstruction algorithm and to estimate the direction of gene interactions via Granger-type elimination. The method is conceptually simple and computationally efficient, and it allows for dealing with noisy measurements. Its performance as a stand-alone platform without biological side-information was tested on simulated networks, on the synthetic IRMA network in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and on data pertaining to the human HeLa cell network and the SOS network in E. coli. The results produced by CaSPIAN are compared to the results of several related algorithms, demonstrating significant improvements in inference accuracy of documented interactions. These findings highlight the importance of Granger causality techniques for reducing the number of false-positives, as well as the influence of noise and sampling period on the accuracy of the estimates. In addition, the performance of the method was tested in conjunction with biological side information of the form of sparse “scaffold networks”, to which new edges were added using available RNA-seq or microarray data. These biological priors aid in increasing the sensitivity and precision of the algorithm in the small sample regime.
Heuristic methods for designing unimodular code sequences with performance guarantees

We develop polynomial-time heuristic methods to solve unimodular quadratic programming (UQP) approximately, which is known to be NP-hard. In the UQP framework, we maximize a quadratic function of a vector of complex variables with unit modulus. Several problems in active sensing and wireless communication applications boil down to UQP. With this motivation, we present two new heuristic methods with polynomial complexity to solve the UQP approximately. The first method is called dominant-eigenvector-matching; here the solution is picked that matches the complex arguments of the dominant eigenvector of the Hermitian matrix in the UQP formulation. We also provide a performance guarantee for this method. The second heuristic method, a greedy strategy, is shown to provide a performance guarantee of (1 − 1/e) with respect to the optimal objective value given that the objective function possesses a property called string submodularity. We also present results from simulations to demonstrate the performance of these heuristic methods.
Tay–Sachs Disease

Tay–Sachs disease is an autosomal recessive, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, caused by the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in neurons. In the classic infantile form, it is usually fatal by age 2 or 3 years, but it can occur in more chronic, later onset forms that resemble Friedreich's ataxia or spinal muscular atrophy in their presentation.
Imaging in Random Media

I will present an introduction to the mathematical theory of wave propagation in heterogeneous media with uncertain micro-scale, modelled as random media. I will summarize the scattering effects in such media and how to mitigate them in order to obtain high fidelity imaging results.
Severe hyponatremia following cyclophosphamide infusion in breast cancer patients.

Cyclophosphamide is an important component of breast cancer therapy. A less common side effect of cyclophosphamide is hyponatremia. This paper describes two cases of severe hyponatremia with neurologic side effects in breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide. Although rare, it is important for physicians to be aware of this side effect and treat accordingly.
Readiness to Change Over Time: Change Commitment and Change Efficacy in a Workplace Health-Promotion Trial

Introduction Organizational readiness to change may be a key determinant of implementation success and a mediator of the effectiveness of implementation interventions. If organizational readiness can be reliably and validly assessed at the outset of a change initiative, it could be used to assess the effectiveness of implementation-support activities by measuring changes in readiness factors over time. Methods We analyzed two waves of readiness-to-change survey data collected as part of a three-arm, randomized controlled trial to implement evidence-based health promotion practices in small worksites in low-wage industries. We measured five readiness factors: context (favorable broader conditions); change valence (valuing health promotion); information assessment (demands and resources to implement health promotion); change commitment (an intention to implement health promotion); and change efficacy (a belief in shared ability to implement health promotion). We expected commitment and efficacy to increase at intervention sites along with their self-reported effort to implement health promotion practices, termed wellness-program effort. We compared means between baseline and 15 months, and between intervention and control sites. We used linear regression to test whether intervention and control sites differed in their change-readiness scores over time. Results Only context and change commitment met reliability thresholds. Change commitment declined significantly for both control (-0.39) and interventions sites (-0.29) from baseline to 15 months, while context did not change for either. Only wellness program effort at 15 months, but not at baseline, differed significantly between control and intervention sites (1.20 controls, 2.02 intervention). Regression analyses resulted in two significant differences between intervention and control sites in changes from baseline to 15 months: (1) intervention sites exhibited significantly smaller change in context scores relative to control sites over time and (2) intervention sites exhibited significantly higher changes in wellness program effort relative to control sites. Discussion Contrary to our hypothesis, change commitment declined significantly at both Healthlinks and control sites, even as wellness-program effort increased significantly at HealthLinks sites. Regression to the mean may explain the decline in change commitment. Future research needs to assess whether baseline commitment is an independent predictor of wellness-program effort or an effect modifier of the HealthLinks intervention.