cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food reward derives from nutrient content and sensory qualities

A large body of work has identified value signals in a number of brain areas and explored their role in decision-making and learning (1⇓–3). However, what is currently not well understood is how these value signals originate and how they are related to the specific sensory experiences that generate them. Taste is famously subjective and is typically treated as a given variable beyond the scope of the experiment. However, in any decision maker, be it a human or an animal, a particular pattern of sensory inputs must directly generate specific value signals in the reward circuit of that subject. This is an objective process, and, in principle at least, we should be able to understand it. Is it possible in practice? In PNAS, Huang et al. (4) describes work that starts to answer some of these questions in the domain of food preferences. Value is a fundamental concept in the behavioral sciences. Humans and animals can select between options with very different attributes. For example, we can easily choose between buying a new computer or going on an expensive vacation, even though these options are very different in type (an object and an activity) and will evoke very different sensory experiences. The behavioral sciences explain this ability by postulating an internal unidimensional signal, called “value,” that can be attributed to any distinguishable option and that collapses all attributes of that option into a single variable. This internal value signal can then be easily compared across all available options, so that the one associated with the largest value signal is chosen. While economics treats value as just a hypothetical variable that explains pattern of preference, neuroscience has demonstrated that value is, in fact, encoded in specific brain circuits. Single-unit recordings have shown the existence of neuronal activity that … [↵][1]1Email: veit{at}jhu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Survey of cyber risk analysis techniques for use in the nuclear industry

Abstract Using traditional probabilistic risk analysis methods for severe accident safety risk management on non-digital systems, structures, and components at nuclear power plants is well-established. In contrast, cyber risk analysis of digital assets is still an immature field with unproven techniques due, in part, to the continuously changing threat environment and the challenge of digital assets failing in unexpected ways. As the nuclear fleet continues to adopt digital instrumentation and control systems, it is increasingly important to have effective and efficient cyber risk analysis techniques to support risk management decisions, such as risk elimination by system redesign or risk mitigation by implementation of prioritized security controls. To understand the state of the art in cyber risk analysis for future research, we surveyed 36 publications across ten application domains. We describe our survey methodology and rate each technique based upon scope, adoptability, and repeatability. We examine the unique constraints of the nuclear industry and outline the strengths and weaknesses of using the cyber risk analysis techniques in the industry, highlighting gaps with current techniques. We also discuss challenges and potential research directions for advancing the science for both existing and new advanced reactors.
Restoring Carboxylates on Highly Modified Alginates Improves Gelation, Tissue Retention and Systemic Capture.

Abstract Alginate hydrogels are gaining traction for use in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and as tissue engineered scaffolds due to their physiological gelation conditions, high tissue biocompatibility, and wide chemical versatility. Traditionally, alginate is decorated at the carboxyl group to carry drug payloads, peptides, or proteins. While low degrees of substitution do not cause noticeable mechanical changes, high degrees of substitution can cause significant losses to alginate properties including complete loss of calcium cross-linking. While most modifications used to decorate alginate deplete the carboxyl groups, we propose that alginate modifications that replenish the carboxyl groups could overcome the loss in gel integrity and mechanics. In this report, we demonstrate that restoring carboxyl groups during functionalization maintains calcium cross-links as well as hydrogel shear-thinning and self-healing properties. In addition, we demonstrate that alginate hydrogels modified to a high degree with azide modifications that restore the carboxyl groups have improved tissue retention at intramuscular injection sites and capture blood-circulating cyclooctynes better than alginate hydrogels modified with azide modifications that deplete the carboxyl groups. Taken together, alginate modifications that restore carboxyl groups could significantly improve alginate hydrogel mechanics for clinical applications. Statement of Significant : Chemical modification of hydrogels provides a powerful tool to regulate cellular adhesion, immune response, and biocompatibility with local tissues. Alginate, due to its biocompatibility and easy chemical modification, is being explored for tissue engineering and drug delivery. Unfortunately, modifying alginate to a high degree of substitution consumes carboxyl group, which are necessary for ionic gelation, leading to poor hydrogel crosslinking. We introduce alginate modifications that restore the alginate's carboxyl groups. We demonstrate that modifications that reintroduce carboxyl groups restore gelation and improve gel mechanics and tissue retention. In addition to contributing to a basic science understanding of hydrogel properties, we anticipate our approach will be useful to create tissue engineered scaffolds and drug delivery platforms.
Predicting whether the ICU can help older patients: score needed

Because the need for intensive care exceeds its availability in several countries, intensivists must admit those patients most likely to benefit. Intensive care unit admissions of elderly patients will increase substantially in the near future. Decreased self sufficiency and quality of life are common after hospitalization in older patients and they may require discharge to a nursing home, although some patients feel that life in a nursing home would be worse than dying. We have much to learn about matching the use of life-supporting treatments to the health-related values of older patients. A specific outcome-prediction score for older patients would help improve quality of care.
Light and electron microscopic studies on pancreatic islets of the lizard Lygosoma laterale. I. Normal and glucose-loaded animals.

Abstract The pancreatic islets from fasted and glucose-stimulated Lygosoma laterale were studied by light and electron microscopy. In the light microscope, A cells were elongate and contained abundant Ponceau-acid fuchsin and phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin stained secretory granules. Normal B cells tended to be ovoid in shape and had aldehyde fuchsin reactive granules. Argyrophilic D cells were oval or wedge-shaped. In the electron microscope, A cells had round or ovoid electron opaque secretory granules with a long axis of 350–500 nm. Normal B cells had large, 500–600 nm diameter, secretory granules which exhibited two distinct matrices. Some B granules had a moderately electron opaque, homogeneous matrix, but others contained an irregular electron opaque core within a less dense matrix. D cell secretory granules were small, approximately 250 nm diameter, and moderately electron opaque. A cells comprised approximately 45%, B cells about 40%, and D cells 10–15% of the islet cell population as observed by light, phase, and electron microscopy. Following oral glucose administration the B cells of Lygosoma laterale responded qualitatively like mammalian B cells, but the response was prolonged and recovery to the normal condition did not occur until approximately 72 hr post glucose infusion. The cytologic modifications observed in B cells at various time periods following glucose administration are discussed. No significant changes in A or D cells were observed at any of the time periods. Concurrent observations on liver cytology suggest the active participation of this organ in lizard carbohydrate metabolism.
Barley Diets with Different Fat Sources have Hypocholesterolemic Effects in Chicks

Saturated fat is known to elevate serum cholesterol, whereas soluble dietary fiber has a hypocholesterolemic effect. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of barley and wheat diets supplemented with five fat sources on lipid metabolism in chicks. In two separate experiments, broiler chicks were fed isonitrogenous diets containing 23% protein, 11.4% dietary fiber and 10% dietary fat for 17 d. Diets contained 60% either hull-less barley or red spring wheat, with either palm oil, dehydrated egg yolk, butter, tallow or corn oil. Growth, feed efficiency, plasma lipids, liver cholesterol, and fecal fat and dry matter were measured. All chicks fed wheat grew faster and had greater food efficiency than those fed barley. All barley-fed chicks had lower (P less than 0.0001) total plasma cholesterol concentration (3.1 to 4.0 mmol/L) than those fed wheat (6.0 to 11.3 mmol/L). Chicks fed palm oil with wheat had the highest total cholesterol, 11.3 mmol/L. Liver cholesterol concentration was higher (P less than 0.0001) for all wheat-fed chicks (22.8-86.4 mmol/g) compared with those fed barley (6.7 to 12.2 mmol/g). Fecal crude fat was higher (P less than 0.05) for chicks fed barley, and excreta dry matter was lower for barley-fed chicks. Results indicate that the high soluble fiber content of this barley exerts a hypocholesterolemic effect in chicks regardless of dietary fat source, possibly mediated through lowered fat absorption.
Managing Neuropathic Pain

Pain may be the most common reason patients seek treatment from physicians. When persistent and unrelieved, pain can frustrate both the person suffering with this condition and the physician trying to alleviate it. Relief from such discomfort may be particularly difficult to achieve and fraught with misconceptions. Treatment usually requires trials of physical, pharmacologic, and surgical interventions to achieve resolution. In cases that remain insoluble, patients must accept partial relief and seek adaptive strategies. Sources of persistent pain may be nociceptive or neuropathic. Both utilize the same nerve pathways for transmission, but significant physiologic differences exist in mechanisms through which these painful stimuli are biologically processed and resolved. Nociceptive pain resulting from a known or obvious source (eg, trauma, cancer metastasis, ischemia, arthritis) is often easy to identify. Neuropathic pain, however, may occur in the absence of an identifiable precipitating cause. Physicians must remain alert to differences in presentation and course of neuropathic pain syndromes, some of which may be subtle or unusual.
RNA polymerase II subunit RPB4 is essential for high- and low-temperature yeast cell growth.

Abstract RPB4 encodes the fourth-largest RNA polymerase II subunit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The RPB4 gene was cloned and sequenced, and its identity was confirmed by amino acid sequence analysis of tryptic peptides from the purified subunit. The RPB4 DNA sequence predicted a protein of 221 amino acids with a molecular mass of 25,414 daltons. The central 100 amino acids of the RPB4 protein were found to be similar to a segment of the major sigma subunit in Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. Deletion of RPB4 produced cells that were heat and cold sensitive but could grow, albeit slowly, at intermediate temperatures. RNA polymerase II lacking the RPB4 subunit exhibited markedly reduced activity in crude extracts in vitro. The RPB4 subunit, although not essential for mRNA synthesis or enzyme assembly, was essential for normal levels of RNA polymerase II activity and indispensable for cell viability over a wide temperature range.
Synthesis of potential antineoplastic agents I

Four new derivatives of o , o ′-diphenamide have been prepared to evaluate their anticarcinogenic activity: o , o ′-bis( N -2-mesyloxyethyl)diphenamide, o , o ′-bis[ N -2-(3-chloropropionamido)ethyl]diphenamide, o , o ′-bis[ N -2-(3-bromopropionamido)ethyl]diphenamide, and o , o ′-bis( N -2-mercaptoethyl)diphenamide.
Effect of annealing on the resistivity of quench-condensed Cu and Cu(Fe) thin films

Pure Cu and Cu(Fe) thin films containing ∼0.1 and ∼1.0 at % Fe were prepared by low-temperature deposition onto a liquid-helium-cooled substrate. The Cu(Fe) films were annealed sequentially at approximately 17, 70, and 270 K. After each annealing stage the resistivity was measured down to ∼1.5K. The Cu(Fe) films exhibited a region in which the resistivity was proportional to ln T; in this region the logarithmic slope of the resistivity curve was only weakly affected by annealing. Below ∼10 K annealing produced a significant decrease in the impurity (Fe) contribution to the resistivity. The results are interpreted as due to increased interactions between Fe atoms produced by an increase in conduction-electron mean free path.
Integrated climate-change strategies of industrialized countries

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the evolving climate-change strategies put in place by industrialized countries to combat climate change and to comply with their quantitative commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. It links past policy performance with the historical level of greenhouse-gas emissions and with indicators of policy performance, such as energy intensity and carbon intensity, between 1990 and 2000. It presents the emerging new and integrated method of climate-policy formulation and implementation based on a portfolio approach, where a mix of policies and measures are selected to help achieve the required emissions reduction. The paper outlines the portfolios of policy instruments used by the industrialized countries in their evolving climate-change strategies and in their approach to widening the scope and increasing the coverage of those policy instruments to all sectors and all gases.
Living Two Lives A Conversation about Being Young, Educated and Female in India

This brief study centres on how some young women in two teacher education programmes in Delhi, India are negotiating their sense of gender identity in a very patriarchal society. It provides first-hand descriptions of what it means to be coming-of-age in this transitional society and offers an analysis of the tensions resulting from the conflicting expectations, restrictions, and opportunities for young women in modern-day India. The author positions the struggles of young women in India as not separate, but part of a universal struggle for human rights.
Relationships among cave swallow populations (Petrochelidon fulva) determined by comparisons of microsatellite and cytochrome b data.

The cave swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) is a polytypic species with isolated populations in northwestern South America, southwestern North America, Yucatan, Greater Antilles, and Florida. We compared microsatellite genotypes of at least five individuals each from five populations and cytochrome b sequence data of two individuals each from seven populations plus two outgroups. Microsatellite allelic diversity was substantial, and the North American populations were about equally variable. In contrast, the Ecuadorian population had far less genetic variation. Gene flow was apparent among populations, especially between Texas and Florida. Genetic structure was greater than in widespread North American species but less than that of sedentary Neotropical birds. Microsatellite genetic distances indicated a close affinity between Ecuadorian and northern populations, especially Texas and Florida, but this finding was inconsistent with cytochrome b data, which indicated that the Ecuadorian population is the clear outgroup to the northern populations. Its outgroup status is consistent with recent classifications that designate South American populations as their own species (P. rufocollaris). The cytochrome b data further suggested that the northern populations are divided into two clades: Texas/Yucatan and Florida/Greater Antilles. The microsatellite data incorrectly measured the diversity and affinities of Ecuadorian birds apparently because of an ascertainment bias that results from the use of heterologous PCR primers. Despite these problems in measuring phylogenetic relationships, the microsatellite data appeared to work well as a population genetic marker in indicating population structure and gene flow.
The effects of neuregulin on cardiac Myosin light chain kinase gene-ablated hearts.

Background Activation of ErbB2/4 receptor tyrosine kinases in cardiomyocytes by neuregulin treatment is associated with improvement in cardiac function, supporting its use in human patients with heart failure despite the lack of a specific mechanism. Neuregulin infusion in rodents increases cardiac myosin light chain kinase (cMLCK) expression and cardiac myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation which may improve actin-myosin interactions for contraction. We generated a cMLCK knockout mouse to test the hypothesis that cMLCK is necessary for neuregulin-induced improvement in cardiac function by increasing RLC phosphorylation. Principal Findings The cMLCK knockout mice have attenuated RLC phosphorylation and decreased cardiac performance measured as fractional shortening. Neuregulin infusion for seven days in wildtype mice increased cardiac cMLCK protein expression and RLC phosphorylation while increasing Akt phosphorylation and decreasing phospholamban phosphorylation. There was no change in fractional shortening. In contrast, neuregulin infusion in cMLCK knockout animals increased cardiac performance in the absence of cMLCK without increasing RLC phosphorylation. In addition, CaMKII signaling appeared to be enhanced in neuregulin-treated knockout mice. Conclusions Thus, Neuregulin may improve cardiac performance in the failing heart without increasing cMLCK and RLC phosphorylation by activating other signaling pathways.
Comparison of statistical variation of threshold voltage in bulk and SOI MOSFETs

Abstract The statistical variation of the threshold voltage induced by random distributed device parameters is examined in both bulk and SOI MOSFETs. Our study reveals that the threshold voltage of thin-film SOI MOSFETs is less sensitive to inherent fluctuations in device parameters. Design considerations in minimizing the statistical threshold voltage variation in SOI MOSFETs are discussed. By proper choice of the gate material, film thickness and channel doping density, enhancement of the production yield can be expected for high-performance SOI VLSI circuits.
Palladium and nickel in north-east Pacific waters

Platinum group metals have not previously been analysed in seawater. However, they have unique chemical properties, such as their various oxidation states and their strong tendencies for complex formation1, and have been used as a potential indicator of the presence of meteoritic material2–4. Moreover, they may have been dispersed about the environment from their use in catalytic converters for internal combustion engines, especially palladium5. Here I report the first palladium profiles in marine water and sediment columns. Palladium concentration in the water column of the north-east Pacific increases from 0.18 pmol kg−1 at the surface to 0.66 pmol kg−1 in deep waters. There is a strong co-variance between palladium and nickel, which implies similar biogeochemical pathways. Significant palladium enrichment in recent sediments from the Palace Moat, Tokyo, Japan, is observed and is perhaps a consequence of palladium usage in automobiles.
A molecular and genetic arsenal for systems neuroscience

Neural circuits are composed of a meshwork of numerous neuron types, each with their own distinctive morphological and intrinsic physiological properties, connectivity and biochemistry. How do distinct neural subcircuits, composed of different classes of neuron, contribute to brain function? Approaching this question requires methods that can target specific neurons types. This can be achieved by harnessing the same machinery that builds sophistication into the brain and using it to make novel tools for investigating and manipulating the brain: molecular and genetic technology. These tools can be used to target gene expression to specific neuron types within complicated neuronal circuits, and the transgenes that are expressed can be used to elucidate and manipulate these circuits with unprecedented precision and control. These methods are likely to become the archetype for future studies linking perception, cognition and behavior to specific components of the brain.
A Rare Case of Fibrous Histiocytic Tumor of the Tongue

Fibrous histiocytoma is a benign soft tissue tumor composed of a mixture of fibroblastic and histiocytic cells arising as a fibrous mass everywhere in the human body. Based on location it is divided into cutaneous type and those involving the deeper tissues. Involvement of the oral cavity is rare. It is important to distinguish this tumor from the more aggressive forms of fibrohistiocytic neoplasm including dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (FH) (7).The clinical and histiological diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of FH have been discussed.
Gargle vocalizations of black-capped chickadees: test of repertoire and video stimuli

Abstract The gargle call is uttered by male black-capped chickadees,Parus atricapillus, during agonistic encounters; in fights between two birds, the gargler nearly always wins. Individuals vary in the number of different types of gargles they have in their repertoires. An experiment was conducted on captive chickadees to determine whether they had a greater aversive response to a larger gargle repertoire. The measure of aversiveness was the time spent away from the stimulus. Video images of a gargling chickadee or of no bird were paired with different gargle repertoire sizes as the test stimuli. The treatment causing the most aversive response was a video of a stimulus bird paired with a repertoire of three gargle types broadcast from a loudspeaker. Only low response was found when a vocal stimulus of three gargle types was presented without the video of the stimulus bird, or when the video was presented with no gargling. The treatment in which the video of a chickadee was paired with a repertoire of a single gargle type was of intermediate aversiveness. Black-capped chickadees find the presence of a potential rival that is giving a multiple-gargle repertoire to be more threatening than one giving a single-gargle repertoire.
THE FUNCTORIALITY OF VASSILIEV-TYPE INVARIANTS OF LINKS, BRAIDS, AND KNOTTED GRAPHS

We define a category to express certain relationships among different kinds of embedding types of graphs in R3, which include links and braids. We define Vassiliev-type invariants in terms of a functor to the category of abelian groups, and we give some applications of this point of view.
On a variable time-step method for the one-dimensional Stefan problem

Abstract Several variable time-step (VTS) methods have been suggested by various authors for the solution of the one-dimensional Stefan problem. All of these methods involve an iterative computation of the time-step for a given advancement of the moving boundary. During each iteration, a linear system of equations needs to be solved. Some modifications of an existing VTS method due to Gupta and Kumar [1] are presented in this paper. The modifications include the use of a tridiagonal solution of the linear system involved instead of Gaussian elimination and the use of an integral relationship to improve the time step instead of a difference formula as in [1]. The first modification yields increased efficiency while the second results in increased accuracy. Numerical results are presented for two problems.
Myelination and myelin degeneration in the central nervous system of dilute-lethal mice.

The effect of the dilute-lethal gene (dl) on the central nervous system of mice was studied. In the homozygous condition this gene produces a dilution of coat color indistinguishable from that of Maltese dilution, dd. About 10 days of age the animals fall over when walking and at 2 weeks opisthotonic seizures begin. Death occurs at 18 to 20 days. The sequence and degree of myelination in the brain and rostral portion of the spinal cord was observed in DD, Ddl, and dldl mice beginning at 4 days of age. No differences were found among the three genotypes. Brains and spinal cords of dilute-lethal mice and normal heterozygotes and homozygotes were examined for the presence of degenerating myelin, as demonstrated by the Marchi method. The vestibulospinal, spinocerebellar, and tectospinal systems of dilute-lethal mice showed evidence of degeneration. Except in the case of a few structures, the degenerating myelin appeared within a day or two of the onset of myelination in that area. Normal littermates of dilute-lethal mice and normal control mice from other strains did not exhibit myelin degeneration up to 135 days of age, the oldest mouse studied.
The Scandal of George Scalise: A Case Study in the Rise of Labor Racketeering in the 1930s

In 1940, the newspaper columnist Westbrook Pegler exposed the criminal past and organized crime connections of George Scalise, the president of the Building Service Employees International Union. Later that same year, Scalise was indicted and then convicted of criminal charges. This widely reported scandal tarnished the labor movement and served to vindicate conservative critics of organized labor, who cited such corruption to support efforts to rein in union power. Scalise's career demonstrates how organized crime came to control certain unions in the 1930s and the various ways corrupt officials used the labor movement for private gain. This scandal also highlights the biased reporting on union corruption, which depicted employers simply as victims, when many of them played a much more complicit role. The real victims were workers, who found themselves forced to join a union organization that did nothing but levy a tax on their employment. For many of these workers this experience left them deeply disillusioned with the labor movement.
Reduced memory JPEG decompression for mobile devices

Imagery makes up a large percentage of geospatial data in use today. One feature of this imagery is that it tends to be large, often hundreds or thousands of megabytes. As a result JPEG compression is often used to make geospatial imagery manageable by reducing the file size without greatly reducing the quality of the image. However, the benefits of compression are absent when the image must be viewed. Viewing a large JPEG image requires decompressing and holding the uncompressed version in memory. Holding the entirety of a large image in memory is a burden on many systems and sometimes impossible. However, the entire image is rarely needed at full resolution. Usually only a small area of interest is viewed or processed. This paper describes a method of removing a small area of interest from a large JPEG without decompressing the entire image. JPEG compressed images are streams which cannot be randomly accessed. Viewing a particular area requires that all preceding areas be partially decompressed. This process is more efficient than fully decompressing the whole JPEG, but depending on the area requested the entire image may need to be partially decompressed. To circumvent this problem an index file is created on first decompression which records markers for the sections of the JPEG. The index file allows random access to the JPEG file so that areas may be decompressed without reading the preceding portions of the JPEG. This method of decompressing a JPEG requires a limited amount of memory and with an index file is fast enough to be performed in real time.
Knight library expansion and renovation project

2 p. Appears as part of an article on Building Libraries for Higher Education in the spring 1996 issue of the OLA Quarterly. The full article is available online at: http://www.olaweb.org/quarterly/quar2-1/higher.shtml
On the efficiency of IPv6-based network mobility

Mobile networks can be formed in vehicles, ships, satellites with a wide variety of on-board IP-enable devices. In spite of the fact that the connection configuration of the components inside the mobile network can influence its total cost and performance regarding mobility management, there exists no standard topological configuration of the mobile network. In this paper, we have performed a cost analysis of the key components of the nested mobile network considering all possible costs. We have chosen several topological configurations to evaluate their cost and performance. Our analysis will help in selecting a mobile network configuration that minimizes the total costs while maximizing efficiency for data communication.
Models of set theory with definable ordinals

A DO model (here also referred to a Paris model) is a model of set theory all of whose ordinals are first order definable in . Jeffrey Paris (1973) initiated the study of DO models and showed that (1) every consistent extension T of ZF has a DO model, and (2) for complete extensions T, T has a unique DO model up to isomorphism iff T proves V=OD. Here we provide a comprehensive treatment of Paris models. Our results include the following: 1. If T is a consistent completion of ZF+V≠OD, then T has continuum-many countable nonisomorphic Paris models. 2. Every countable model of ZFC has a Paris generic extension. 3. If there is an uncountable well-founded model of ZFC, then for every infinite cardinal κ there is a Paris model of ZF of cardinality κ which has a nontrivial automorphism. 4. For a model ZF, is a prime model ⇒ is a Paris model and satisfies AC⇒ is a minimal model. Moreover, Neither implication reverses assuming Con(ZF).
Regulating Risk: Defining Genetic Privacy in the United States and Britain

The availability of new genetic testing technologies to identify individuals as at risk for a particular disease has inspired tremendous concern that individuals with gene mutations will soon be un...
Modeling of macroscopic response of phase transforming materials under quasi-static loading

Based on a continuum model of solid-solid phase transformations, the macroscopic response of a bar of a thermoelastic phase transforming material loaded quasistatically is investigated. A critical loading rate is identified for the evolution of a single phase boundary in the bar during an isothermal process. It is shown that, when the loading rate is larger than this critical loading rate, nucleation occurs either continuously or at multiple sites; when the loading rate is lower than this critical loading rate, the size of the hysteresis loop increases with increasing loading rate, and decreases with an increase in the mobility of the phase boundary. The heat conduction due to the heat generated by the latent heat of the phase transformation is considered for a special case.
Mass spectrometric differentiation of leucine and isoleucine in proteins derived from bacteria or cell culture

Abstract The differentiation of leucine and isoleucine is a well known difficulty in mass spectrometric peptide sequencing. A technique has been developed which allows these two amino acids to be distinguished by growing a bacterial or cell culture in a medium containing γ,δ-dl-dideuteroleucine. The isotopically labelled residue is incorporated into the cell's proteins, and the resulting mass spectra of leucine containing peptides exhibit sequence ions 2 amu higher than the corresponding isoleucine peptides.
Patterns of winter desiccation in Krummholz forms of Abies lasiocarpa at treeline sites in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Winter desiccation-induced foliage loss at high-elevation locations is an important determinant of positive carbon balance for trees and thus influences the location of the alpine treeline ecotone. In this study, data are presented that describe the amount of winter desiccation incurred by krummholz growth forms of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook) Nutt.) at treeline locations in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, for the winter of 1998/1999. An average 8.68% of the krummholz canopy was lost due to desiccation. Winter desiccation is not predictable based on any single environmental variable. When outliers are removed, winter desiccation shows a strong correlation with elevation (r= 0.97). Patch level winter desiccation amounts are, however, highly predictable from elevation, slope, aspect and topographic context when considered together. In general, injury increases with elevation and on more southwesterly facing hillslopes. High slopes and sheltered locations decrease winter desiccation. Within patches, most winter desiccation is located at the windward edge of the patch. This trend may be modified by the presence of leaders above the mean canopy surface of the krummholz patch, or by local microtopographic features such as dead branches or the proximity of large rocks. The winter of 1998/1999 was a high winter desiccation year compared to the two previous winters. The winter of 1998/1999 had high snowfall, and meltout did not occur until later than the previous two winters. The extended period of snow cover is hypothesized to be one of the causes of the increased winter desiccation for the 1998/1999 winter.
Tom-vs-Pete Classifiers and Identity-Preserving Alignment for Face Verification.

We propose a method of face verification that takes advantage of a reference set of faces, disjoint by identity from the test faces, labeled with identity and face part locations. The reference set is used in two ways. First, we use it to perform an “identity-preserving” alignment, warping the faces in a way that reduces differences due to pose and expression but preserves differences that indicate identity. Second, using the aligned faces, we learn a large set of identity classifiers, each trained on images of just two people. We call these “Tom-vs-Pete” classifiers to stress their binary nature. We assemble a collection of these classifiers able to discriminate among a wide variety of subjects and use their outputs as features in a same-or-different classifier on face pairs. We evaluate our method on the Labeled Faces in the Wild benchmark, achieving an accuracy of 93.10%, significantly improving on the published state of the art.
Portrayals of the Poor on the Cusp of Capitalism Promotional Materials in the Case of Heifer International

An entrepreneurial image of the poor is becoming quite popular among nonprofit organizations, especially with the growing use of micro-finance models. The present study explores the promotional mat...
Fabrication methods for creating flexible polymer substrate sensor tags

The authors describe the design, fabrication, and testing of a passive wireless sensor platform utilizing low-cost commercial surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters and sensors. Polyimide and polyethylene terephthalate sheets are used as substrates to create a flexible sensor tag that can be applied to curved surfaces. A microfabricated antenna is integrated on the substrate in order to create a compact form factor. The sensor tags are fabricated using 315MHz SAW filters and photodiodes and tested with the aid of a fiber-coupled tungsten lamp. Microwave energy transmitted from a network analyzer is used to interrogate the sensor tag. Due to an electrical impedance mismatch at the SAW filter and sensor, energy is reflected at the sensor load and reradiated from the integrated antenna. By selecting sensors that change electrical impedance based on environmental conditions, the sensor state can be inferred through measurement of the reflected energy profile. Testing has shown that a calibrated system utilizing ...
Role of Topology in the Cooperative Collapse of the Protein Core in the Sequential Collapse Model. Folding Pathway of α-Lactalbumin and Hen Lysozyme

This paper further explores the recently proposed sequential collapse model (SCM) for protein folding pathways. Two specific items are considered within the SCM: (a) the cooperative collapse phase for protein folding pathways and (b) applications of the model to suggest the folding pathways of α-lactalbumin and hen lysozyme. With regard to the first goal, it is shown that major topological rearrangements of the protein core after the hydrophobic collapse are entropically unfavorable, suggesting that the final native structure is attained sequentially through a limited number of nativelike optimization steps. It is also shown that cross-links between protein loops are entropically unfavorable. This result suggests that long proteins fold in independent folding units, with each one of them corresponding to initially forming a single loop defined by a hydrophobic contact. The second objective of this paper is to illustrate further the predictive capabilities of the SCM through its application to the folding...
Wind Tunnel Wall Corrections Deduced by Iterating from Measured Wall Static Pressure

An iterative method for calculating wall interference corrections to model lift and induced drag from simple flowfield measurements is presented. The method is applied to low-speed solid-wall wind tunnels, where the only measurements required are wall static pressures. The procedure for the iterations is described and the criterion for convergence to unconfined flow is given. The advantages of this method are that it easily handles cases having strong viscous effects, models with running propellers, etc. The viability of the procedure is demonstrated in a low-speed wind tunnel test of a wing model. A comparison shows that the standard method of images undercorrects, in this particular case, by about 20-30%.
A retrospective study of multimodal analgesic treatment after laparoscopic appendectomy in children

SummaryBackground Laparoscopic appendectomy is a common emergency pediatric surgery procedure accompanied by substantial pain (pain scores >4 for >60% of the time) in 33% of these patients. We introduced a bundle of pain management interventions including local anesthetic infiltration at the incision site, intravenous (IV) opioids by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), and scheduled doses of IV ketorolac and oral acetaminophen/hydrocodone. Objectives To evaluate the effect of these pain management interventions on pain control after laparoscopic appendectomy. Methods We retrospectively studied pain in 206 children above 7 years of age undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy from December 2011 to February 2012 at our institution. We extracted data on patient demographics, duration of anesthesia and surgery, intraoperative opioids, local anesthetic infiltration, surgical procedure reports, along with pain scores, postoperative PCA use, and opioid-related complications and hospital stays. Patients were divided into two groups – simple appendicitis without peritonitis and appendicitis with generalized peritonitis. Results The incidence of substantial pain when the multimodal regimen was used was 12%, which is significantly lower than earlier reports (Fisher's exact test P < 0.001). Patients with generalized peritonitis experienced more pain, consumed more opioids, had more unmet PCA demands, and a higher incidence of respiratory depression compared with those with simple appendicitis. Conclusion The multimodal regimen of local anesthetic infiltration, opioid by PCA, NSAIDs, and oral acetaminophen/hydrocodone reduced the incidence of substantial pain. Additional studies are required to identify subgroups of patients with minimal opioid requirements who can benefit from modifications of this regimen.
Bone marrow evaluation in new-onset pancytopenia

The new onset of pancytopenia often creates a diagnostic dilemma to the treating physician and leads to bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. To determine the distribution of bone marrow findings in such cases of new-onset pancytopenia in a tertiary academic medical center, we evaluated 250 recent bone marrow aspirates and biopsies performed in the setting of new-onset pancytopenia in patients without previously diagnosed hematologic neoplastic disease. Of the 250 bone marrow studies, 193 were performed in adults and 57 were performed in children. In children, the most prevalent bone marrow finding was B-lymphoblastic leukemia, followed by nonspecific changes attributed clinically to a variety of factors including multifactorial, autoimmune, inflammatory, and infectious etiologies. In adults, hematologic neoplastic causes of pancytopenia were the most prevalent diagnoses, with the cases divided mostly between acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, with fewer numbers of cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphomas. Many bone marrow findings demonstrated nonspecific changes that were attributed clinically to a variety of etiologies such as myelodysplastic syndrome, multifactorial causes, hypersplenism, drugs, and systemic disease. Overall, in both the pediatric and the adult population, new-onset pancytopenia was most commonly associated with neoplasia, although the neoplasm differed by age group. Although in most cases, a definitive diagnosis could be made based solely on bone marrow aspirate and biopsy interpretation, a significant fraction of cases in both children and adults demonstrated nonspecific marrow findings that required clinical follow-up and/or repeat biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
Developing computational tools for NMR: the early days of protein NMR

This article describes the personal memories of the author on the early developments of computational methods for protein structure determination in the laboratory of Kurt Wuthrich from 1977 to the 1990's. The computational problem to solve protein structures from NMR structures needed sophisticated computational and mathematical approaches; some of the technical problems were related to the limited memory capabilities of the computer hardware at that time. Competition and collaboration between X-ray crystallographers and NMR was intensely intertwined in the early days of protein NMR, and provided the driving force to establish the NMR method as a second method for high-resolution structure determination. Kurt's vision on the power of NMR and his faith in theoreticians made his laboratory a fruitful place for co-workers with different scientific background. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Response of NaI, anthracene and plastic scintillators to electrons and the problems of detecting low energy electrons with scintillation counters☆

Abstract The electron response of NaI(Tl) has been measured with magnetic-spectrometer-energy-selected electrons incident on cleaved crystal surfaces, in the energy range 5–1000 keV. The light output/keV (≡ response) shows a maximum in the neighborhood of 15–20 keV which is some 20% larger than that at 1 MeV; below 15 keV the response falls sharply reaching 80% of the peak value at ∼ 5 keV. The electron response of anthracene and a plastic scintillator (Pilot B) were measured under the same experimental conditions for comparison. Both anthracene and Pilot B show nonproportional response in the low energy region. At 500 keV the ratio of the responses NaI(Tl)/anthracene/Pilot B are 1.6/1.0/0.38; at 20 keV the ratios are 2.5/1.0/0.41. Decay curve analysis yields for some of the long lived states (excited by incident electrons) in NaI(Tl), 200–300 μsec, 7–9 msec, 40–80 msec, 4 sec, 1 min and 12 min; for anthracene 36 μsec, 120 μsec and 570 μsec. Relatively intense long lived states and more backscattering make NaI(Tl) not generally useful as a low energy electron detector. Uncovered anthracene mounted directly on a photomultiplier and the combination cooled to prevent sublimation of the phosphor in the high vacuum of the beta spectrometer provides a counter which has efficiencies measurable from the pulse height distributions down to ∼6 keV. At backgrounds of 300–500 cpm it has usable efficiencies down to 1 keV.
Peopling the Tibetan plateau: insights from archaeology.

Abstract Aldenderfer, Mark. Peopling the Tibetan plateau: insights from archaeology. High Alt. Med. Biol. 12:141–147, 2011.—Recent studies of the genome of modern Tibetans have revealed the existence of genes thought to provide an adaptive advantage for life at high elevation. Extrapolating from this discovery, some researchers now argue that a Tibetan–Han split occurred no more than 2750 yr ago. This date is implausible, and in this paper I review the archaeological data from the Tibetan plateau as one means by which to examine the veracity of this assertion. Following a review of the general state of knowledge of Tibetan prehistory, which is unfortunately only at its beginnings, I first examine the data that speak to the initial peopling of the plateau and assess the evidence that traces of their presence can be seen in modern Tibetans today. Although the data are sparse, both archaeology and genetics suggest that the plateau was occupied in the Late Pleistocene, perhaps as early as 30,000 yr ago, and t...
Solar extreme‐ultraviolet irradiance for general circulation models

[1] Recent measurements of the solar extreme-ultraviolet spectrum provide high-resolution spectral irradiance that can be used for calculating ionization and dissociation rates in the upper atmosphere and for providing improved proxy-based models of the solar spectrum. These are crucial inputs for global time-dependent general circulation models of the thermosphere and ionosphere, but computational economies require that a lower-resolution spectrum be used in the calculations without excessive loss of accuracy. The problem is compounded by the photoelectrons generated by ionization, which cause further ionization and dissociation of atmospheric gases. We describe a method for using solar spectral measurements or models to calculate ionization and dissociation rates throughout the upper atmosphere, including photoelectron effects, that is more accurate and more efficient than its predecessors. Examples of use with measurements from the Solar EUV Experiment on the TIMED satellite and with the EUVAC model are given, and an example calculation using the National Center for Atmospheric Research thermosphere-ionosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model is shown.
Relationship of Food Availability and Accessibility to Women's Body Weights in Rural Upstate New York

Food stores within a large area of rural upstate New York (N = 870) were surveyed using the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Stores. Food environments within 5 miles of the women's homes were characterized by (1) the proximity and (2) density of each store type and (3) the average Healthy Food Availability Index (HFAI) score. Logistic regression analyses predicted the risk of being overweight, obese, and overweight or obese (combined) by food environment characteristics. Greater access to food stores and greater availability of healthy food were associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity.