cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracking Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the South Platte River Basin Using Molecular Signatures of Urban, Agricultural, And Pristine Sources

A novel approach utilizing antibiotic-resistance-gene (ARG) molecular signatures was applied to track the sources of ARGs at sites along the Cache la Poudre (Poudre) and South Platte Rivers in Colorado. Two lines of evidence were employed: (1) detection frequencies of 2 sulfonamide and 11 tetracycline ARGs and (2) tet(W) phylotype and phylogenetic analysis. A GIS database indicating the locations of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and animal feeding operations (AFOs) in the watershed was also constructed to assess congruence of the surrounding landscape with the putative sources identified by ARG molecular signatures. Discriminant analysis was performed on detection frequencies of tetARG groups that were previously identified to be associated with either WWTPs or AFOs. All but one (South Platte River-3, just downstream from the confluence with the Poudre River) of the eight sites were classified as primarily WWTP-influenced based on discriminant analysis of ARG detection frequencies. tet(W) phylotype ...
The simultaneous determination of L-697, 661, a HIV-1 specific reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and its 6-hydroxy metabolite in human plasma via column-switching high performance liquid chromatography

A method for the determination of L-697, 661, a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and its 6-hydroxy metabolite in plasma is described. Following analyte isolation via solid phase extraction, samples are analyzed by HPLC using a column switching system. Column switching allows each analyte to be simultaneously analyzed under isocratic reverse phase conditions in a run time of 21 minutes. The assay was linear in the concentration range of 10–500 ng/mL for each analyte when 1 mL aliquots of plasma were extracted. The assay has been fully validated and utilized for human pharmacokinetic studies.
Environmental exposures that affect the endocrine system: Public health implications

In recent years much attention has been focused on the potential for a wide range of xenobiotic chemicals to interact with and disrupt the endocrine systems of animal and human populations. An overview of the chemicals that have been implicated as endocrine disruptors is presented. The ubiquity in the environment and associated body burdens of these chemicals in human populations are described. Potential mechanisms of action are reviewed, including the role of specific intracellular receptors and their interactions with endogenous and exogenous materials. The subsequent upregulation or downregulation of physiological processes at critical stages of development is discussed. The potential for joint toxic action and interaction of chemical mixtures is also discussed. The acknowledged role of wildlife populations as sentinels of potential human health effects is reviewed, and the weight of evidence for the role and impact of endocrine disruptors is presented. The implications of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals for human health are reviewed, with special emphasis on the potential for transgenerational effects in at-risk populations. Recommendations for future research include the development of (1) structural activity and in vivo and in vitro functional toxicology methods to screen chemicals for their endocrine-disrupting ability, (2) biomarkers of exposure and effect, and (3) in situ sentinel systems.
Effects of a total artificial heart right stroke volume limiter on left-right hemodynamic balance

In a completely implantable total artificial heart (TAH), the left-right flow difference attributable to higher volumetric efficiency of the right pump and bronchial artery shunting has always been a significant problem. The automatic control of the Cleveland Clinic-Nimbus TAH accommodates for the left-right flow difference when the beat rate is below maximum (AUTO range). However, at its maximum beat rate (MAX), high left atrial pressure (LAP) (greater than 25 mmHg) with relatively low right atrial pressure (RAP) (less than 8 mmHg) were observed both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the need for a stroke volume limiter (SVL) of the right pump. In vitro volume loading tests showed 10%, 15%, and 20% SVLs prevented a disproportionate increase of LAP. In vivo studies in five Holstein calves also showed a balanced LAP-RAP relationship with 10% and 15% SVLs at MAX. The left pump flow was not affected by this range of SVLs either in vitro or in vivo. Pulmonary function was maintained with either size SVL, with autopsies revealing absence of pulmonary congestion and minimal pleural effusions in two calves surviving for more than 1 month. Although additional studies are needed to determine the appropriate size of the SVL, both 10% and 15% SVLs were effective in maintaining left-right hemodynamic balance in this TAH.
The costs of closing nuclear power plants

Abstract This paper presents methods for estimating the full costs of closing nuclear power plants. It (1) reviews recent studies of the economic costs of closing the Indian Point and Zion nuclear generating facilities, (2) offers methods for synthesizing the total costs of such closures, and (3) identifies and discusses the uncertainties associated with the major cost drivers. Scenarios describing the distribution of the costs among ratepayers, stockholders, bondholders and taxpayers are then used to illustrate alternative viewpoints on net and total closure costs. A matrix framework for conceptualizing and displaying closure costs is developed and used to illustrate the inadequacies of the cost estimates developed for recent public-policy debates.
Scattering from a truncated von Neumann–Wigner potential

In 1929, von Neumann and Wigner [Phys. Z. 30, 465 (1929)] demonstrated the existence of local potentials which support a bound state with energy embedded in the continuous spectrum. In this paper, we study the $s$-wave scattering produced by a class of von Neumann--Wigner potentials which are perturbed by truncating them at some large radius $r=a.$ For the class of potentials considered, we obtain an analytic expression for the Jost function. The original continuum bound state is replaced by a well isolated complex zero of the Jost function (equivalent to a pole of the $S$ matrix), but this does not produce a conventional Breit-Wigner resonance. Instead, we find twin peaks in the cross section, separated by a very narrow gap associated with the Jost function zero. Our study continues with an account of bound states and virtual states supported by the potential, and with an investigation of the form of asymptotically large zeros of the Jost function. We compare the results of this paper with the significantly different results we obtained using a different perturbation [Phys. Rev. A 52, 3932 (1995)].
1994 Special Issue: Mobile robot visual mapping and localization: A view-based neurocomputational architecture that emulates hippocampal place learning

We propose a real-time, view-based neurocomputational architecture for unsupervised 2-D mapping and localization within a 3-D environment defined by a spatially distributed set of visual landmarks. This architecture emulates place learning by hippocampal place cells in rats, and draws from anatomy of the primate object (''What'') and spatial (''Where'') processing streams. It extends by analogy, principles for learning characteristic views of 3-D objects (i.e., ''aspects''), to learning characteristic views of environments (i.e., ''places''). Places are defined by the identities and approximate poses (the What) of landmarks, as provided by visible landmark aspects. They are also defined by prototypical locations (the Where) within the landmark constellation, as indicated by the panoramic spatial distribution of landmark gaze directions. Combining these object and spatial definitions results in place nodes whose activity profiles define decision boundaries that parcel a 2-D area of the environment into place regions. These profiles resemble the spatial firing patterns over hippocampal place fields observed in rat experiments. A realtime demonstration of these capabilities on the binocular mobile robot MAVIN (the mobile adaptive visual navigator) illustrates the potential of this approach for qualitative mapping and fine localization.
Supporting families of infants with congenital heart disease

Abstract When an infant is diagnosed with congenital heart disease, many families think it is a death sentence for their infant. Through the course of the infant's treatment, the family must be an integral part of the infant's care; they too must receive care and support. Nurses are in a key position to advocate for these families. This article outlines strategies for family support. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Early event-related brain potentials and hemispheric asymmetries reveal mind-wandering while reading and predict comprehension.

a b s t r a c t The electroencephalogram (EEG) of mind-wandering (MW) was examined in event-related potentials (ERPs) and pre-stimulus alpha (8–12 Hz), over lateral-posterior sites of left and right brain hemispheres, while individuals read text passages. After controlling for individual differences in general intelligence (g), P1-asymmetry was greater (right-minus- left) and N1 amplitudes were more negative, when individuals were not MW (i.e., they were reading attentively). Approximately 82% of variance in reading comprehension was accounted for by the predictors: g, pre-stimulus alpha, left- and right-hemisphere P1, and left-hemisphere N1 (when individuals were not MW). Together, individual differences in MWsensitive ERPs uniquely accounted for approximately 38% of the variance in reading comprehension, over and above prediction by g and pre-stimulus alpha. The within-person effect of MW on P1-asymmetry was estimated to account for an additional 4.6% of criterion variance. Implications for EEG/ERP research into attention, language processing, hemispheric asymmetries, and individual differences are discussed. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Hydrophilic macroionic solutions: what happens when soluble ions reach the size of nanometer scale?

Large, hydrophilic inorganic ions (mostly polyoxometalate macroions and cationic metal-organic hybrid nanocages) with high solubility in water and/or other polar solvents demonstrate unique solution behaviors. In dilute solutions, they behave significantly different from small simple ions (as described by the Debye-Huckel theory) because the macroions cannot be treated as point charges or large, insoluble colloidal suspensions (usually described by the DLVO theory) because the macroions form homogeneous, stable "real solutions". The size disparity between the macroions and their counterions results in complex macroion-counterion interaction and leads to the self-assembly of macroions into single-layered, hollow, spherical "blackberry" structures. The blackberries, with robust and very stable structures mimicking biological membranes, can adjust their size accurately and reversibly in response to the change of solvent content, charge density on the macroions, or in some cases merely solution pH. The blackberry membrane is permeable to small cations. The inorganic macroions with well-defined size, shape, mass, charge density (even accurately tunable within certain range), and no intramolecular interaction can be treated as simple model systems to understand the intermolecular interaction in polyelectrolyte solutions. The blackberry structures show certain similarities to the spherical virus capsids, from the overall structure to the kinetic properties of formation.
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND PRE-IPO SHAREHOLDERS: ANGELS VERSUS VENTURE CAPITALISTS

At the time of an initial public offering, shares in a firm are typically held by venture capitalists, insiders, corporate investors and angel investors. We examine the role of angel investors in the IPO process. We find that angel investors provide equity capital in industries venture capitalists are less likely to serve and that shareholders in angel backed IPO firms are more likely to sell their shares at the time of the offering. Where venture capital backed IPO firms have higher underpricing, angel backed IPO firms do not, implying that angels may be the preferred investors for early-stage firms.
Evolutionary psychology from a developmental systems perspective: comment on Lickliter and Honeycutt (2003).

Although agreeing with R. Lickliter and H. Honeycutt (2003) that evolutionary psychology lacks and should adopt a coherent developmental model to explain how evolved mechanisms become expressed in phenotypes, it is argued that adhering to the principles of developmental systems theory, despite enhancing evolutionary psychology, would not change appreciably its basic focus. The concepts of innateness and modularity, what is inherited and what evolves, as well as the possible role of developmental plasticity in the evolution of human cognition are discussed. It is proposed that evolutionary psychology can incorporate the developmental systems perspective into its theorizing, with the end result being a science that more closely reflects human nature. The age of genomics began half a century ago with the discovery of the chemical basis of inheritance (Watson & Crick, 1953). Since that time, knowledge of how genes influence structure and function has grown continuously, culminating in February 2001 with the joint publication of the first “complete” drafts of the human genome by two competing research teams (International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium, 2001; Venter et al., 2001). Biologists, psychologists, medical professionals, policymakers, journalists, and the public at large all shared in the enthusiasm of this feat of modern science, expressing the belief that the path to perfect knowledge would be through the genes. With respect to psychology, this “genomicophilia” represents a trend beginning in the 1970s of an increasingly gene’s-eye view of the “cause” of behavior, displacing the once-entrenched “environmentalism” as the dominant paradigm of modern psychology. Although this is perhaps best seen in the acceptance of behavior genetics as a reputable scientific discipline, it can also be seen in the ascendancy of evolutionary psychology as a respectable topic for study. The problem is, according to Lickliter and Honeycutt (2003), these gene-based perspectives represent an outdated understanding of how genes produce body, mind, and behavior, resulting, unwittingly, in a form of genetic determinism. These claims could be made equally well against practitioners of either behavior genetics or evolutionary psychology, but it is the latter group that Lickliter and Honeycutt singled out in their article. (See Gottlieb, 1995, and Moore, 2001, for critiques of behavior genetics from a developmental systems perspective.) Proponents of contemporary evolutionary psychology understandably balk at the label genetic determinists, insisting that they do not advocate an old-fashioned and wrongheaded form of nativism and that they are explicitly interactionists— but ones who
Robust adaptive control: a unified approach

A complete tutorial review of the entire field is presented, beginning with simple instability examples to identify the causes of nonrobust behavior in adaptive control. Some of the mathematical groundwork is presented, and the theory for the design and analysis of adaptive laws is developed. Commonly used adaptive controller structures are discussed, highlighting their particular robustness properties. Particular attention is paid to model reference, pole placement, and linear quadratic controller structures. Designs and analyses of model reference, pole placement, and linear quadratic controllers, based on combining the corresponding controller structures with the various robust adaptive laws, are presented. Suggestions for future research are given. >
Placement of continuous media in wireless peer-to-peer networks

This paper investigates a novel streaming architecture consisting of home-to-home online (H2O) devices that collaborate with one another to provide on-demand access to large repositories of continuous media such as audio and video clips. An H2O device is configured with a high bandwidth wireless communication component, a powerful processor, and gigabytes of storage. A key challenge of this environment is how to place data across H2O devices in order to enhance startup latency, defined as the delay observed from when a user requests a clip, to the onset of its display. Our primary contribution is a novel replication technique that enhances startup latency, while minimizing the total storage space required from an environment consisting of N H2O devices. This technique is based on the following intuition: The first few blocks of a clip are required more urgently than its last few blocks, and should be replicated more frequently in order to minimize startup latency. We develop analytical models to quantify the number of replicas required for each block. In addition, we describe two alternative distributed implementation of our replication strategy. When compared with full replication, our technique provides on average greater than 97% (i.e., several orders of magnitude) savings in storage space, while ensuring zero startup latency and a hiccup-free reception.
Structure and mechanism of the polynucleotide kinase component of the bacterial Pnkp-Hen1 RNA repair system

Pnkp is the end-healing and end-sealing component of an RNA repair system present in diverse bacteria from many phyla. Pnkp is composed of three catalytic modules: an N-terminal polynucleotide 5'-kinase, a central 2',3' phosphatase, and a C-terminal ligase. Here we report the crystal structure of the kinase domain of Clostridium thermocellum Pnkp bound to ATP•Mg²⁺ (substrate complex) and ADP•Mg²⁺ (product complex). The protein consists of a core P-loop phosphotransferase fold embellished by a distinctive homodimerization module composed of secondary structure elements derived from the N and C termini of the kinase domain. ATP is bound within a crescent-shaped groove formed by the P-loop (¹⁵GSSGSGKST²³) and an overlying helix-loop-helix "lid." The α and β phosphates are engaged by a network of hydrogen bonds from Thr23 and the P-loop main-chain amides; the γ phosphate is anchored by the lid residues Arg120 and Arg123. The P-loop lysine (Lys21) and the catalytic Mg²⁺ bridge the ATP β and γ phosphates. The P-loop serine (Ser22) is the sole enzymic constituent of the octahedral metal coordination complex. Structure-guided mutational analysis underscored the essential contributions of Lys21 and Ser22 in the ATP donor site and Asp38 and Arg41 in the phosphoacceptor site. Our studies suggest a catalytic mechanism whereby Asp38 (as general base) activates the polynucleotide 5'-OH for its nucleophilic attack on the γ phosphorus and Lys21 and Mg²⁺ stabilize the transition state.
Preliminary results from the third flight of the Millimeter Anisotropy Experiment (MAX).

Preliminary results from the June 1991 flight of MAX are presented. Simultaneous observations were made in bands centered at 6, 9, and 12 cm-1 with a bolometric receiver operating at 300 mK. The experimental sensitivities are the highest reported at angular scales of 0.3 degrees to 1.0 degrees. Interstellar dust is observed to have an emissivity [symbol, see text] nu 1.4+/-0.3 and to correlate with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) 100- map. After removal of emission from interstellar dust, 1.3 hr of integration on a 6 degrees scan yields an upper limit of temperature difference Delta T/T
Error Rate of Transmit Beamforming with Delayed and Limited Feedback

In this paper, we study the effect of delayed and limited feedback of beamformer codebook index on the error rate of transmit beamforming (BF) over Rayleigh fading channels. Closed-form expressions for the moment generating function (MGF) and the probability density function (PDF) of the receiver output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) including the effects of outdated and finite-rate feedback are derived. Based on these, we further provide analytical expressions for error rate of BF systems. Our results show that for channels with non-bandlimited fading spectra, the error rate performance monotonically degrades when the feedback delay increases. On the other hand, for channels with bandlimited fading spectra the error rate may not monotonically degrades as the delay goes to infinity. However, delayed feedback may cause the transmit diversity gain being reduced to one for high SNRs, that is, no diversity gain but only an array gain is attained. The performance loss caused by delayed feedback may be much more detrimental than the limited-rate feedback for all SNRs.
Internal-wave interactions in the induced-diffusion approximation

Dynamical equations for the interaction of high-wavenumber, high-frequency internal waves with a prescribed, linear, large-scale internal-wave field are obtained from the Boussinesq–Euler equations. The relationship of these ‘induced-diffusion’ interactions to the Taylor–Goldstein equation is discussed. Exact equations are derived in the induced-diffusion limit of McComas & Bretherton (1977) for the evolution of the first and second moments of the small-scale flow when the large-scale flow is assumed random. Estimates of corrections to the induced-diffusion approximation for the Garrett–Munk internal-wave model indicate the domain of applicability of these equations. Computations of the autocorrelation function and action transport in wavenumber and physical space are presented. Severe limitations are found on the applicability of two-time perturbation theory and the resonant-interaction approximation. The high transfer rates found by McComas & Bretherton in the induceddiffusion regime are reduced significantly in the present calculations.
Cloud Phase Structure: Experimental Data Analysis and Parameterization

Abstract In this article, the data collected over 6 yr of daily observations at a network of aircraft sounding (31 stations) in the former Soviet Union, and the data collected by Canadian researchers in field campaigns in the 1990s, are reanalyzed and compared with each other. To describe the cloud phase structure (CPS), the notion of the cloud phase index (CPI)3 is used; that is, the local mass fraction of the ice particles in the total (water + ice) water content. It is concluded that the average distribution of the (CPI)3 values in clouds depends mainly on the temperature, the cloud types, and the scale of averaging. If these characteristics remain unchanged the geographic and seasonal variations of the phase structure are small. It is shown that for averaging scales of the order of 100 m, the frequency of occurrence of liquid clouds [(CPI)3 = 0] varies from approximately 60% at 0°C to 5% at −35°C, and that of the ice clouds from about 5% to 60%. The frequency of occurrence of the mixed clouds only wea...
3D compression made simple: Edgebreaker with ZipandWrap on a corner-table

Edgebreaker is a simple technique for compressing three-dimensional triangle meshes. We introduce here a new formulation of Edgebreaker, which leads to a very simple implementation. We describe it in terms of a simple data structure, which we call the Corner Table. It represents the connectivity of any manifold mesh as two tables, V and O, such that for a corner c, which is the association of a triangle with a vertex, V[c] is an integer reference to the vertex of c and O[c] is an integer reference to the opposite corner. For meshes that are homeomorphic to a sphere, Edgebreaker encodes these two tables with less than 2 bits per triangle. It compresses vertex locations using Touma and Gottsman's parallelogram predictor. We also present a new decompression, inspired by the Wrap&Zip decompression technique developed in collaboration with Andrzej Szymczak. We call it Zip&Wrap, because it works in the inverse direction from Wrap&Zip and zips cracks in the reconstructed mesh sooner. The detailed source code for the compression and the decompression algorithms fits on a single page. A further improvement of the codebook of Edgebreaker, developed with D. King, guarantees no more than 1.73 bits per triangle for the connectivity. Entropy encoding reduces this cost in practice to less than a bit per triangle when the mesh is large. Through minor modifications, the Edgebreaker algorithm has been adapted to manifold meshes with holes and handles, to non-triangle meshes, and to non-manifold meshes. A Corner-Table implementation of these is described elsewhere.
The Dissolution of Aluminum in Sodium Hydroxide Solutions

In continuation of a previous study (1) of the dissolution of commercially pure aluminum (99.2% Al) in alkaline solutions, the effect of impurities, concentration of sodium hydroxide, temperature, agitation, and the effect of an external current on the dissolution of a series of aluminum specimens ranging in composition from 99.2 to 99.998 per cent Al was investigated. Increasing quantities of impurities (iron being the most effective) increase the rate of dissolution. The largest increase is at the concentration of iron representing the limit of solubility of iron in solid aluminum. During the dissolution process the impurities in aluminum accumulate on the surface and accelerate the rate of dissolution.An aluminum alloy containing 2.5 per cent Mg and 0.5 per cent Cr (52S) has a constant rate of dissolution. The impurities in this alloy, together with the alloying elements, drop to the bottom of the solution. They do not precipitate on the surface of the metal. The electrode potential for the alloy having a constant rate is constant, whereas the alloys whose rate of dissolution increases as the impurities precipitate on the surface reflect this increasing rate in electrode potential measurements, which change in the cathodic direction.The rate of dissolution of aluminum reaches a maximum value as the concentration of sodium hydroxide is increased to 5.5N. At concentrations greater than 5.5N the rate of dissolution decreases. The decrease is linear with the concentration of sodium hydroxide between 7 and 12N. The effect of temperature on the rate of dissolution may be represented by the Arrhenius equation. The "experimental energy of activation" of this equation increases as the concentration of sodium hydroxide is increased up to 12N. Agitation equivalent to a linear velocity of 188 cm/sec does not change the rate of dissolution of the alloy containing Mg and Cr in 0.30N solution.Making aluminum cathodic by means of an external current does not affect the electrode potential. The electrode potential changes observed on making aluminum anodic are correlated with measurements of the "difference effect."An attempt is made to correlate the effect of increasing concentration of sodium hydroxide on the rate of dissolution with the specific conductance of the solution and to interpret the experimental results in terms of various electrochemical theories.
Copyright in the networked world: copies in courses

Purpose – This column looks at questions from teaching faculty about the use of copyright protected materials in an online course.Design/methodology/approach – Copyright guidelines are considered. The US TEACH Act and Fair Use statutes are examined, as well as how to make a risk assessment for the institution.Findings – US universities have a reasonable freedom to use protected materials in the virtual equivalent of face‐to‐face teaching, as long as it costs the rights holders no loss of expected income and as long as it takes into account the litigiousness of certain firms and associations.Originality/value – Each copyright use assessment has unique circumstances, but a discussion of the reasoning behind an actual case helps to build a community of good practice that strengthens similar assessments.
The Qualitative Rationalization and Prediction of “Correlation Effects” in “Complex” Ground State Molecules

One of the great advantages of MOVB theory is that it forms the basis for a logical and coherent interpretation of chemical phenomena. The situation is quite different in the case of MO theory: Within this framework, one typically solves the problem at the SCF-MO level and then corrects the solution by re-solving it at the SCF-MO-CI level. In the process, one generates two apparently distinct conceptual frameworks with the result that the appearance is created that there are “MO effects” and “CI effects”. This is quite inappropriate since the “CI effects” are nothing else but consequences of the solution of the SCF-MO equations, unless by “CI effects” one implies the chemical consequences of nonvalence orbitals which are not included in the monodeterminantal calculation. Perusal of the vast theoretical literature reveals that this point has not been properly appreciated. We believe that this is due to the fact that there has been no conceptual tool capable of revealing the nature of error involved at the Single Determinant (SD) MO level and how it is linked to fundamental electronic mechanisms which are grossly reproduced by SD MO theory. With MOVB theory as our weapon, we now attempt to answer the following question: What is the meaning of the term, “valence correlation effect”, or, more briefly, “correlation effect”?
Reducing Salt Pickup from Irrigated Lands

Reducing the contribution of irrigated agriculture to the problem of salt loading in a major river basin is described in both a conceptual and mathematical context. The array of alternative solutions are primarily structural in nature and are oriented towards reducing salt pickup resulting from inefficient irrigation practices. The optimization of salinity control strategies involves combining the best features of several control measures. Consequently, the analyses described are based on finding the minimum cost solution to a salinity control problem involving a specified goal for salt load reduction.
Local Leaders Say Police-Community Relations are Good Throughout Michigan, But Those In Large Cities are Concerned About Potential Unrest Over Police Use-of-Force

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of police-community relations, concern over the potential for civil unrest, and the use of a range of law enforcement policies, practices, and equipment in their jurisdiction. The findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Fall 2015 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
ACTH action on podocytes: mystery solved?

podocytes are the key target cell for injury in proteinuric kidney disorders such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), minimal change disease, and membranous nephropathy. Sadly, advances in elucidating the molecular architectural details of the podocyte actin cytoskeleton, cell body, and
Yellowfever Mosquitoes: Compounds Related to Lactic Acid that Attract Females

Among compounds structurally related to L-lactic acid, an attractant for female Aedes aegypti (L.), 17 had activities approaching or better than that of L-lactic acid at least 1 of the 3 concentration levels tested. Active compounds included 2- to 5-carbon aliphatic acids substituted in the alpha position with a hydroxy, oxo, mercapto, bromo, or chloro group. Two β-hydroxy acids and a β-mercapto acid also were active.
Origins of Diastereoselectivity in Lewis Acid Promoted Ketene–Alkene [2 + 2] Cycloadditions

A detailed analysis of a Lewis acid promoted ketene–alkene [2 + 2] cycloaddition is reported. The studies have led to a rationalization for an observed inversion of diastereoselectivity between thermally induced and Lewis acid promoted ketene–alkene [2 + 2] cycloadditions. The model is supported with both experimental and computational results.
Study of Plumage of the Four Species of the Genus Gallus

Among the many species of birds known, perhaps the one most important to man throughout the ages has been the domestic fowl. The original domestication of this bird antedates history. Yet even today, we cannot conclusively state whether or not it has had monophyletic origin from one of the wild species or polyphyletic origin from two or more of the living four species. There is evidence to support both theories. In an attempt to elucidate further the question of monophyly or polyphyly, an investigation was begun with the four species of the genus Gallus. It was believed that a close study of internal anatomy, plumage, behavior, and reproduction would yield information helpful in interpreting the evolution of the domestic form. A recent study (Morejohn 1966) revealed significant differences in the syringial apparatus of three species. The present investigation is a close study of feather types and plumage sequences of the four species. The conclusions drawn as a result of this study are relevant to the interrelationships of the four species. Conclusions relative to the relationships of the junglefowls to the domestic fowl will be reported in another
Nonlinear Properties in Coordination Copolymers Derived from Randomly Mixed Ligands

Random copolymerization is a core strategy of the polymer industry, enabling broad tuning of materials properties through mixing monomers with similar reactivities. In coordination polymers, analogous results have recently been achieved using combinations of isomorphic linkers copolymerized by appropriate metals; in general, the properties of the resultant coordination copolymers can be described as a linear combination of the properties of the constituent building blocks. Here we demonstrate that this need not be the case: coordination copolymerization is a powerful strategy for directing phase formation. For example, reaction of 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid with Zn2+ typically affords phase-impure material in N,N-dimethylformamide whereas using an amino functionalized linker leads to pure high surface area material with the structure of MOF-5. However, mixed-linker copolymers derived from a combination of both linkers display surface areas comparable to that of MOF-5 synthesized in N,N-diethylformamide,...
Research on Agent-based Sally Combat Simulation of the Naval Air Force

The sally of the naval aviation combat is important to smoothly perform the tasks of the battle.On the basis of analyzing the characteristic of sally combat,this paper builds the model based on multi-agent of operations simulation.Then the communication process between the Agent and decision-making process of the Command Post Agent are analysised and the corresponding model is built.These provide the foundation for the further research of multi-agent and have some guiding significance to the research of Combat Simulation of the Naval Air Force.
Ouyang Xiu's Criticism on the Taoistic Mysticism during the Begining of Song Dynasty

The pervasion of mysticism during the begining of the Song dynasty severely damaged the normal development of society. By the stand of Confucianism,Ouyang Xiu rationally refuted such phenomenon on all as-pects, which consequently favored the awakening of Taoism itself. Meanwhile, Cheng Tuan, Zhang Boduang and other Taoist thinkers, influenced by the academic tendency of integration between confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism,actively made their own retrospection towards the defects of Taoism itself and criticism from confucianism, and thus, by adopting the thinking logic of Buddhism, eventually gave Taoism a new image at the society of the Song dynasty.
Effect of valve replacement for chronic mitral insufficiency on left ventricular function during rest and exercise

In this study we measured left ventricular function at rest and during exercise before and after operation in 18 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) for chronic mitral insufficiency. First-transit radionuclide angiocardiography was employed a week before operation and 5 to 19 months after operation to calculate left ventricular ejection fraction, volumes, output, filling, and emptying rates. Preoperatively, left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 0.56 ± 0.09 (mean ± S.D.) at rest to 0.62 ± 0.11 during exercise, and this response was not altered for the group after operation. After valve replacement, there was no consistent change in end-diastolic volume (EDV), and cardiac function was not related to an alteration in filling rates of the left ventricle. After operation, the patient group achieved a maximal ventricular filling rate during exercise comparable to that measured before operation. In addition, postoperative maximal filling rates did not correlate with prosthetic valve size. These data suggest that the hemodynamic changes elicited by MVR for chronic insufficiency are primarily related to the elimination of the regurgitant flow but not attributable to alterations of the myocardium. It is suggested that limitation in exercise performance after operation may be primarily related to the functional status of the myocardium prior to operation.
Sense/Antisense origins of amino acid activation

Sequence and structure alignments of class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) reveal that a minimal catalytic domain of ~130 amino acids can be achieved by removing 76 residues from the catalytic domain of TrpRS and connecting the resulting termini by a peptide bond. The deleted peptide, known as CP1, provides interfaces to the anticodon-binding domains, to the second monomers in dimeric class Ic aaRS, and editing and 3′ acceptor-binding domains in different class I subclasses. The minimal TrpRS catalytic core domain constructed by deleting CP1, together with the C-terminal anticodon-binding domain, retains all catalytic signature peptides and all residues defining amino acid specificity. It catalyzes tryptophan activation approximately 1011 times faster than the uncatalyzed rate, and an active site point mutant changes its activity. This high residual activity demonstrates that ancestral class I aaRS could have been as small as ~130 residues and that codons for Class I PxxxHIGH and KMSKS signatures coul...
Discretization of Continuous Systems

In this chapter, the discretization of continuous systems is presented. The explicit and implicit discrete maps are discussed for numerical predictions of continuous systems. Basic discrete schemes are presented which include forward and backward Euler methods, midpoint, and trapezoidal rule method. An introduction to Runge–Kutta methods is presented, and the Taylor series method and second-order Runge–Kutta method are introduced. The explicit Runge–Kutta methods for third and fourth order are systematically presented. The implicit Runge–Kutta methods are discussed based on the polynomial interpolation, which include a generalized implicit Runge–Kutta method, Gauss method, Radau method, and Lotta methods. In addition to one-step methods, implicit and explicit multi-step methods are discussed, including Adams–Bashforth method, Adams–Moulton methods, and explicit and implicit Adams methods.
Waste Informatics: Establishing Characteristics of Contemporary U.S. Landfill Quantities and Practices.

Waste generation is expected to increase in most countries for many decades with landfill disposal still the dominant solid waste management method1–3. Yet, operational characteristics of landfills are often poorly understood with comparative statistics substantially lacking. Here, we call for a more formal waste informatics to organize and standardize waste management knowledge at multiple spatial scales through analysis of recently reported data from 1232 U.S. landfills and other high resolution data sets. We create the first known estimate of available U.S. municipal waste stocks (8.5 billion tonnes) and go on to resolve these stocks at the county level, reflecting prospective urban mining opportunities. Our analysis of disposal rates and landfill capacities reveals that more than half of U.S. states have more than 25 years of life remaining. We also estimate the gross energy potential of landfill gas in the U.S. (338 billion MJ/yr) by examining 922 operational methane collection systems and demonstrat...
Experimental Demonstration of Demagnifying Hyperlens

The emergence of optical metamaterials opens new opportunities for spatial pattern compression from the micro- to nanoscale. By exploiting strongly anisotropic optical properties of engineered nanostructures, we realize the first experimental demonstration of demagnifying hyperlens enabling optical patterning below the diffraction limit. We show that the diffraction-limited features on a mask can be demagnified to form the subwavelength patterns on the photoresist using visible light.
Evidence toads may modulate landing preparation without predicting impact time.

ABSTRACT Within anurans (frogs and toads), cane toads (Bufo marinus) perform particularly controlled landings in which the forelimbs are exclusively used to decelerate and stabilize the body after impact. Here we explore how toads achieve dynamic stability across a wide range of landing conditions. Specifically, we suggest that torques during landing could be reduced by aligning forelimbs with the body9s instantaneous velocity vector at impact (impact angle). To test whether toad forelimb orientation varies with landing conditions, we used high-speed video to collect forelimb and body kinematic data from six animals hopping off platforms of different heights (0, 5 and 9 cm). We found that toads do align forelimbs with the impact angle. Further, toads align forelimbs with the instantaneous velocity vector well before landing and then track its changes until touchdown. This suggests that toads may be prepared to land well before they hit the ground rather than preparing for impact at a specific moment, and that they may use a motor control strategy that allows them to perform controlled landings without the need to predict impact time.
On a randomly accelerated particle

The focus of this note is to learn more about the Kolmogorov equation describing the dynamics of a randomly accelerated particle. We first explore some existing results of the Kolmogorov equation from the stochastic and differential equation points of view and discuss its solvability with and without boundary conditions. More specifically, we introduce stochastic processes and Brownian motion and we present a connection between a stochastic process and a differential equation. After looking at stochastic processes, we introduce generalized functions and derive the fundamental solution to the heat equation and to the Fokker–Planck equation. The problem with a reflecting boundary condition is also studied by using various methods such as separation of variables, self-similarity, and the reflection method.
The Malian Lakes Region redefined: archaeological survey of the Gorbi Valley

The Malian Lakes Region of West Africa has long been overlooked in favour of better-known basins of the Niger River. New archaeological survey of this region, however, shows a history far more complex than had previously been thought, with settlement mounds and multiple phases of migration and eventual abandonment in a landscape of shifting power structures between the first millennium BC and second millennium AD. With the establishment of a relative chronology, the archaeology of this region now holds great potential for a better understanding of the broader cultural history of the Ghana Empire.
Darden Business Publishing Gets Lean (a)

Darden Business Publishing provides its own field case as a consultant is enlisted to help it streamline production using Lean principles. The case provides an overview of continuous improvement concepts applied in a service setting. Excerpt UVA-OM-1497 Rev. Apr. 7, 2014 DARDEN BUSINESS PUBLISHING GETS LEAN (A) Darden Business Publishing (DBP) prepared business case studies for use in the Darden classroom and, simultaneously, for publication and sales worldwide through both its own website and those of partner distributors. The case collection was a key manifestation of Darden's intellectual capital and value proposition; new cases kept the MBA curriculum relevant and imparted thought leadership by Darden faculty and researchers. But Steve Momper, DBP's director, had grown frustrated by a backlog of work in process (WIP) and an average 86-day lead time for case publication. Future growth in the business required an expansion of capacity, yet budget constraints had forced the elimination by attrition of two editor positions. Momper knew that the editing and publishing process required significant rework. The time was right to call on Austin English, a Darden alumnus whose consulting firm, RCF Associates, specialized in continuous process improvement (CPI). The Existing Process In recent years, DBP had grown rapidly, yet its process had never been reevaluated in its entirety so, over time, legacies had led to inefficiencies. There was more emphasis on beginning projects as they were received than on finishing those whose editing had already begun. A motivated faculty member with a tight deadline might be forced to wait in line while a colleague allowed months to elapse before reviewing a draft. In some instances, so much time would pass that a faculty author not only would no longer need the case but would barely recall the work in question. . . .
A Mobile Breast Cancer Survivorship Care App: Pilot Study

Background: Cancer survivors living in rural areas experience unique challenges due to additional burdens, such as travel and limited access to specialists. Rural survivors of breast cancer have reported poorer outcomes, poorer mental health and physical functioning, and lower-than-average quality of life compared to urban survivors. Objective: To explore the feasibility and acceptability of developing a mobile health survivorship care app to facilitate care coordination; support medical, psychosocial, and practical needs; and improve survivors' long-term health outcomes. Methods: An interactive prototype app, SmartSurvivor, was developed that included recommended survivorship care plan components. The prototype's feasibility and acceptability were tested by a sample of breast cancer survivors (n=6), primary care providers (n=4), and an oncologist (n=1). Results: Overall, both survivors and providers felt that SmartSurvivor was a potentially valuable tool to support long-term survivorship care plan objectives. Portability, accessibility, and having one place for all contact, treatment, symptom tracking, and medication summaries was highly valued. Conclusions: Our pilot study indicates that SmartSurvivor is a feasible and acceptable approach to meeting survivorship care objectives and the needs of both breast cancer survivors and their health care providers. Exploration of mobile health options for supporting survivorship care plan needs is a promising area of research.
Subscapularis Tenotomy in Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Tenotomy of the subscapularis is commonly used for exposure at the time of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty. Understanding the anatomy of the subscapularis and its footprint for insertion into ...
High Catalytic Efficiency of Lignin Depolymerization over Low Pd-Zeolite Y Loading at Mild Temperature

This paper reports a novel low-temperature process for aromatics production through lignin depolymerization catalyzed by Pd-zeolite Y catalyst. Under the hydrogen atmosphere, aromatics were the predominant products with high yields of phenols and dimers. The prepared Pd-zeolite Y catalysts by a facile method exhibited much higher catalytic efficiency than zeolite Y or commercial Pd/Al2O3-Zeolite composites. Results revealed that the Pd-zeolite Y catalyst is a highly active catalyst for the cleavage of lignin inter-linkages, especially the C-O-C bonds by hydrogenolysis.