cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is ouabain-sensitive rubidium or potassium uptake a measure of sodium pump activity in isolated cardiac muscle?

1. (1) The significance of the specific (ouabain-sensitive) 86Rb+ or 42K+ uptake by cardiac muscle preparations which are not ‘sodium-loaded’ was studied. 2. (2) In left atrial preparations of guinea-pig heart, resting 86Rb+ uptake was relatively low. It was markedly increased by electrical stimulation. This stimulated uptake was further enhanced by isoproterenol and inhibited by verapamil. 3. (3) In rat atria, the resting 86Rb+ uptake was somewhat higher than in guinea-pig atria, and the increase in uptake caused by electrical stimulation was smaller. In guinea-pig right ventricular papillary muscle, the resting uptake was highest among those tissues studied, and the response to electrical stimulation was smallest. In the latter tissue, verapamil produced only a minimal inhibition of the specific 86Rb+ uptake. 4. (4) The effect of the frequency of electrical stimulation on 86Rb+ uptake paralleled its influence on the force of contraction, suggesting the involvement of intracellular sodium in both events. 5. (5) In both left atrial and right papillary muscle preparations of guinea-pig heart, specific 42K+ uptake observed with 5.8 mM K+ was relatively high, and was increased only slightly by electrical stimulation. This electrical stimulation, however, increased ouabain-induced inhibition of 42K+ uptake, suggesting that the stimulation increases the amount of Na+ available to the sodium pump. 6. (6) When the K+ concentration was 1 mM, the resting 42K+ uptake was low, and could be enhanced by electrical stimulation.
Effects of dip and vacuum infiltrations of various inorganic chemicals on post‐harvest quality of apple.

Abstract Influence of dip, low, medium, and high vacuum applications of 5 inorganic chemicals on “Golden Delicious”; apple was studied after 5 months of 0° C storage. Urea delayed ground color development, increased internal breakdown, but decreased firmness. Magnesium chloride induced severe incidence of a bitter pit‐like symptom which did not have corky tissue. Soluble solids and titratable acidity were not affected by any of the treatments. Calcium chloride decreased bitter pit but increased water soaked appearance and firmness. In general, a simple dip of fruit in calcium chloride can be recommended for retention of apple firmness in the storage rather than vacuum infiltration.
Nonlinear hybrid control of phase models for coupled oscillators

We present a new approach to the problem of desynchronization of a population of all-to-all coupled oscillators. Motivated by Deep Brain Stimulation treatment of Parkinson's Disease, the objective is to break this synchrony in the fullest measure by means of a control input only applied to one of the oscillators. Specifically, nonlinear hybrid control is proposed as a novel method for robust global asymptotic stabilization of the splay state. The problem setup is presented in a general way, and a simple example is solved that gives an idea of how this method might be applied in practice.
Esophageal Repair Following Late Diagnosis of Intrathoracic Perforation

Abstract Multiple techniques, often complex, have been used to repair the esophagus following spontaneous, instrumental, or postsurgical perforation, especially when the diagnosis of perforation has been delayed. We have closed such perforations by wrapping a pedicled pleural flap around the esophagus, suturing it firmly over the area of leakage and around its margins. Due to inflammatory changes secondary to perforation, the flap is thickened and easily applied. Four patients were treated with this technique with success in every case. One patient with achalasia had sustained perforation three days prior to repair, another 30 hours following leakage at an esophageal suture line, the third 20 hours following esophagoscopic extraction of a necrosing foreign body, and the fourth 8 hours following hydrostatic bougienage for achalasia.
δ- and κ-opioid agonists inhibit plasma extravasation induced by bradykinin in the knee joint of the rat

Abstract We used an experimental model of neurogenic inflammation, plasma extravasation induced by bradykinin or capsaicin, to study the effect of receptor-selective opioid agonists on plasma extravasation. Plasma extravasation was induced in the knee joint of the rat by continuous perfusion of either bradykinin (160 ng/ml), an inflammatory mediator produced at sites of tissue injury, that produces plasma extravasation significantly dependent on the sympathetic postganglionic neuron, or capsaicin (5 mg/ml), a C-fiber excitotoxin, that induces plasma extravasation that is dependent on both primary afferents and sympathetic post-ganglionic neurons. When selective δ-((d-Pen 2,5 )-enkephalin) or κ-(trans-3,4-dichloro- N -methyl-N[2-(-pyrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide; U50.488H) opioid agonists were perfused with bradykinin, plasma extravasation was significantly attenuated. Co-perfusion of the non-selective opioid antagonist naloxone (1 μM), reversed this opioid-induced inhibition of bradykinin-induced plasma extravasation. In contrast, co-perfusion of a selective μ-opioid agonist (Tyr- d -Ala-Gly-NMe-Phe-Gly-ol) did not reduce bradykinin-induced plasma extravasation.Tyr- d -Ala-Gly-NMe-Phe-Gly-ol was, however, able to completely inhibit the plasma extravasation produced by capsaicin. These results suggest that δ-and κ-, but not μ-selective opioids inhibit bradykinin-stimulated plasma extravasation, while a μ-selective opioid inhibits primary afferent-dependent plasma extravasation. Therefore, inhibition of neurogenic plasma extravasation by receptor-selective opioids may depend on the relative contribution to plasma extravasation of unmyelinated afferent and sympathetic postganglionic neuron terminals. Our findings can also explain, in part, the variation in anti-inflammatory effects of receptor-selective opioids reported in different inflammatory conditions.
Manic-depressive illness and schizophrenia: a partial validation of research diagnostic criteria utilizing neuropsychological testing.

Abstract We administered neuropsychological tests (aphasia screening and trail-making) to 9 of 11 patients with admission diagnoses and research diagnoses of schizophrenia, and 24 of 44 patients who received admission diagnoses of schizophrenia but who satisfied research criteria for affective illness. Admission/research schizophrenics had more abnormal global aphasiascreening-test performances, and a greater proportion of abnormal responses, than did admission schizophrenics rediagnosed as having affective illness. These results obtained for both dominant- and nondominant-hemisphere functioning. We interpret these data as support for the diagnostic validity of our research criteria.
A study of hexane/toluene extraction of fossil resin types from the Utah Wasatch Plateau coal

Abstract Four fossil resin types from the Wasatch Plateau coal field of central Utah were distinguished by their colour—yellow, amber, light-brown and dark brown—and were physically isolated by hand sorting. These resin types were subjected to physical/chemical characterization, petrographic examination, and hexane/toluene extraction. The solvent extracted fractions were then subjected to pyrolysis gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry analysis and FT-i.r. spectroscopic examination. The extraction rate by both hexane and toluene follows the order: yellow > amber > light brown > dark brown. These resins were found to be composed mainly of aliphatic components, partially aromatized multicyclic terpenoids and a few oxygen functional groups (mostly -COOH) with molecular weight and aromaticity increasing in the following order: yellow resin
Use of the 295- to 300-Nanometer Circular Dichroism Trough of Ribonucleic Acid to Study Helix Winding: Effect of Acridine Orange

Acridine orange decreases the amplitude of the 295-nm circular dichroism (CD) trough of ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) where the trough has been related to coil character. Since acridine orange is known from earlier work to intercalate between base pairs of nucleic acids, causing an unwinding of the coil, and our studies show a decrease in the 295-nm CD trough, it appears that CD measurements may be used to observe relative unwinding of rRNA. Under similar solution conditions, melting temperatures with acridine orange indicate no significant change in the stabilization of rRNA structure by acridine orange. Hypochromicity studies show no increase in the percent base pairing in rRNA when 0.1 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (pH 7.6) with 1.35 M KCl is used. These results indicate that CD changes in the amplitude of the 295-nm trough of rRNA are related to helix winding in rRNA.
Novel miniaturized multispectral imaging system for real-time bruise detection

Multispectral imaging (MSI) technology has the potential to provide effective tools to fight against the prevalent social problem of child and elder abuses via objective and accurate assessment and determination of size, shape and age of bruises. This paper provides a feasibility study of instrumenting MSI technology for convenient bruise study. Conventional MSI technique can be employed to determine the signature optical properties of bruises, i.e., to obtain a finite set of center wavelengths at which the bruise chromospheres have peak absorption. To reduce the size, cost and improve the efficiency of MSI imaging system, a micro narrow-band filter mosaic is designed, developed and integrated with a conventional monochrome CCD imaging sensor to produce a prototyped handheld multispectral imager that is capable of producing four multispectral images with a single shot and is suitable for bruise detection in clinical and forensic settings.
Fairness, legal compliance, and organizational commitment

Attribution theory is used to hypothesize a positive relationship between one's perception that a fairness motive underlies personnel/human resource management activities and one's organizational commitment. The hypothesis is tested via a survey of 48 operating managers in a Midwestern department store chain. Using hierarchical regression to control for job satisfaction and length of service, a significant positive relationship exists between commitment and the perception that a fairness motive underlies personnel/human resource management activities. Commitment is not significantly related to the perception that a legal compliance motive underlies the activities.
Campaign Finance Laws and the Competition for Spending in Gubernatorial Elections

Objective. The diversity of campaign finance laws in the U.S. states allows the effects of these reforms to be measured. I investigate the impact of contribution limits and public financing on campaign spending in gubernatorial elections. Methods. I conduct a multivariate regression analysis of general election spending in races for governor from 1980 to 2000. I analyze levels of spending per voter, as well as challengers' share of total spending. Results. State contribution limits do not hold down overall spending. Candidate acceptance of public funding and spending limits reduces spending by incumbent governors more than it reduces that of challengers. As for challengers' share of spending, I find that public funding programs improve challengers' ability to match incumbents' spending dollar for dollar. Conclusions. State programs that offer public funding to candidates effectively favor challengers. This points to the potential of these reforms to make federal elections more competitive.
Sound Reading and Reading Sounds: The Case for Phonemic Awareness.

The National Reading Panel (NRP) issued a Congressional mandated report to identify key skills and methods related to the development of successful reading skills. One of the first of identified skills is phonemic awareness. This column addresses this area of reading instruction and provides suggestions for literature to be shared with young readers and listeners that support phonemic awareness. Fifteen children’s books are reviewed and recommended.
Skp-cullin-F box E3 ligase component FBXL2 ubiquitinates Aurora B to inhibit tumorigenesis.

Aurora B kinase is an integral regulator of cytokinesis, as it stabilizes the intercellular canal within the midbody to ensure proper chromosomal segregation during cell division. Here we identified that the ubiquitin E3 ligase complex SCFFBXL2 mediates Aurora B ubiquitination and degradation within the midbody, which is sufficient to induce mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Three molecular acceptor sites (K102, K103 and K207) within Aurora B protein were identified as important sites for its ubiquitination. A triple Lys mutant of Aurora B (K102/103/207R) exhibited optimal resistance to SCFFBXL2-directed polyubiquitination, and overexpression of this variant resulted in a significant delay in anaphase onset, resulting in apoptosis. A unique small molecule F-box/LRR-repeat protein 2 (FBXL2) activator, BC-1258, stabilized and increased levels of FBXL2 protein that promoted Aurora B degradation, resulting in tetraploidy, mitotic arrest and apoptosis of tumorigenic cells, and profoundly inhibiting tumor formation in athymic nude mice. These findings uncover a new proteolytic mechanism targeting a key regulator of cell replication that may serve as a basis for chemotherapeutic intervention in neoplasia.
Adaptive low sidelobe thinning

This paper explains how to adaptively adjust the sidelobe level of a planar array by changing the thinning configuration. The directivity decreases with additional thinning, but the relative sidelobe level also goes down, so there is an overall increase in the signal to interference ratio. To reduce the number of active elements, the same elements are turned off for each thinning configuration.
Variation in Inpatient Consultation Among Older Adults in the United States

BACKGROUND Differences among hospitals in the use of inpatient consultation may contribute to variation in outcomes and costs for hospitalized patients, but basic epidemiologic data on consultations nationally are lacking.
Self-limiting droplet fusion in ionic emulsions.

We make an oil-in-water emulsion, which is initially stabilized using a first ionic surfactant, and mix it with a solution of a second ionic surfactant having the opposite charge, thereby inducing massively parallel droplet fusion. A transient disruption of the screened-charge repulsive barrier between interacting droplets, caused by the second ionic surfactant, arises from significant yet temporary charge neutralization of the first ionic surfactant on the surfaces of the oil droplets while mixing occurs. Interestingly, if a moderate molar excess of one surfactant exists, then the resulting emulsion re-stabilizes after limited droplet fusion. By adjusting the droplet volume fraction, concentrations of first and second surfactants, and volumes of the emulsion and the solution of the second surfactant, we control the degree of droplet coalescence and achieve a self-limiting droplet fusion process. Using optical microscopy, we observe that flat, thin, crystalline films can form between the two oil compartments after fusion of two or more immiscible microscale droplets. However, no such crystalline films are seen on the highly curved oil–oil interfaces inside nanoscale droplets that are composed of two or more immiscible oils and have been fused in the same manner, as revealed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy.
On the impacts of lognormal-Rice fading on multi-hop extended networks

Abstract—This paper presents an analytical model for a multi-hop two-dimensional (2-D) network with ﬁnite density of nodescommunicating with one another by forming an opportunisticlarge array (OLA). Transmission among these nodes is modeledvia Markov Chain, where the wireless channel is considered asa composite lognormal-Rice random process. We approximatethe sum distribution of the received power at a node withlognormal random variable (RV) using a moment generatingfunction (MGF)-based approach, which is acquired by usingGauss-Hermite integration. The transition probability matrix isderived to determine the one-hop success probability. Coverageaspects for different arrangement of nodes is quantiﬁed alongwith the effects of wireless channel on system performance.Index Terms —Cooperative Communication, Wireless SensorNetworks, Lognormal-Rice fading I. I NTRODUCTION Multi-hop network is a common layout nowadays for wire-less sensor networks (WSN). Data gathering, possibly in amulti-hop fashion, from a wide spread of unknown amount ofsensors to a sink node is an important application of WSN.Each sensor node in the path of a transmission is responsiblefor relaying the message to another node. However, issuesof long delays, low reliability, and increased latency raisedserious questions on the performance of single-input single-output (SISO) multi-hop networks. In addition to that, thechannel impairments like multipath fading and shadowinglimit the performance of the system.Cooperative transmission (CT), as a physical layer transmis-sion technique, was introduced to boost the system efﬁciencyby employing spatial diversity. The system capacity increasesby providing distributed transmit diversity as multiple nodestransmit the same message and in lieu of that a node receivesmultiple copies of the same message, which increases thelikelihood of decoding the message correctly. One of themost effective CT networks is the Opportunistic Large Arrays(OLAs) [1] that perform in a multi-hop manner where allnodes in a network form groups, and these groups of nodestransmit the same message at the same time to the other group.The promising feature of range extension [2]-[3] due to OLAbroadcasting and energy efﬁciency [4] makes it a desirableoption for densely populated networks.
Biological conversion assay using Clostridium phytofermentans to estimate plant feedstock quality

Background: There is currently considerable interest in developing renewable sources of energy. One strategy is the biological conversion of plant biomass to liquid transportation fuel. Several technical hurdles impinge upon the economic feasibility of this strategy, including the development of energy crops amenable to facile deconstruction. Reliable assays to characterize feedstock quality are needed to measure the effects of pre-treatment and processing and of the plant and microbial genetic diversity that influence bioconversion efficiency. Results: We used the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium phytofermentans to develop a robust assay for biomass digestibility and conversion to biofuels. The assay utilizes the ability of the microbe to convert biomass directly into ethanol with little or no pre-treatment. Plant samples were added to an anaerobic minimal medium and inoculated with C. phytofermentans, incubated for 3 days, after which the culture supernatant was analyzed for ethanol concentration. The assay detected significant differences in the supernatant ethanol from wild-type sorghum compared with brown midrib sorghum mutants previously shown to be highly digestible. Compositional analysis of the biomass before and after inoculation suggested that differences in xylan metabolism were partly responsible for the differences in ethanol yields. Additionally, we characterized the natural genetic variation for conversion efficiency in Brachypodium distachyon and shrub willow (Salix spp.). Conclusion: Our results agree with those from previous studies of lignin mutants using enzymatic saccharificationbased approaches. However, the use of C. phytofermentans takes into consideration specific organismal interactions, which will be crucial for simultaneous saccharification fermentation or consolidated bioprocessing. The ability to detect such phenotypic variation facilitates the genetic analysis of mechanisms underlying plant feedstock quality.
Laser induced periodic surface structure formation in germanium above laser damage fluence by mid IR femtosecond laser irradiation

Laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were generated via interaction of multiple 90 femtosecond 1900 - 3600 nm mid IR laser pulses (3 -10,000) on single crystal Ge targets. For specific laser parameters, both low and high frequency LIPSS are found together, which are oriented perpendicular to each other. Study of polarization dependence of LIPSS revealed that orientation and symmetry of interaction could be controlled by rotating polarization of laser pulses. Low frequency LIPSS formation was consistent with surface plasmon coupling of laser pulses with excited Ge.
Improving aquatic plant growth using propagules and topsoil in created bentonite wetlands of Wyoming

Abstract Aquatic plants usually establish at created wetlands via water, wind, or animal transport of propagules from nearby wetlands. However, plants may not establish in created wetlands that are far removed from natural wetlands and their seed sources. In northeast Wyoming, over 1500 wetlands have been created as a result of bentonite mining and most are >50 km from natural wetlands. Aquatic plants have not established at many of these wetlands, and creation and restoration activities have not included plant propagation techniques. Furthermore, these wetlands were created using bentonite as the substrate, with no addition of topsoil. This might pose a further barrier to plant growth. Our objectives were to examine the growth of various aquatic plants within four substrate types: (1) native bentonite, (2) native topsoil, (3) topsoil and bentonite mix, and (4) greenhouse soil. We grew nine submergent and emergent plant species, using the four treatments, during 2000 and 2001, in wetland microcosm located at the University of Wyoming’s Greenhouse. We also conducted growth trials for six aquatic plant species using experimental exclosures and existing bentonite substrates at ten wetlands during 2000 and 2001. The greenhouse experiments demonstrated that the addition of topsoil can increase plant numbers and growth weights by >50% for most of the species we tested, although several species exhibited moderate growth in the bentonite treatments. The wetland exclosures suggested that the addition of plant propagules to existing bentonite wetlands can increase aquatic vegetation dramatically. Because many more wetlands will be created in this region, we believe that incorporating topsoil at a minimum ratio of 50:50 by volume with bentonite during basin construction and introducing plant propagules are two techniques that can be used to increase the value and productivity of these created wetlands.
Polymethylhydrosiloxane surface deactivation of silica particles for packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography

Spherical porous silica particles (10 μm diameter, 300 A and 80 A pores), spherical nonporous silica particles (10 μm diameter), and irregular porous silica particles (≈10 μm diameter, 80 A pores) were deactivated with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PS). The surface activities of the deactivated silica particles were investigated using various polar compounds under supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) conditions (neat CO2), and compared with a commercial C18-bonded phase. The small pore (80 A) silica particles could be more completely deactivated than larger pore (300 A) and nonporous silica particles. The success of the PS deactivation method is ascribed to the excellent match between the reactive groups on the polymer backbone and the silica surface, and the formation of a highly crosslinked polymeric layer over the surface. Physical processes, such as adsorption and desorption of the deactivation reagent on the surface and diffusion from the surface, were found to have important effects on the deactivation. Using capillary columns packed with PS deactivated silica particles, typical polar organic compounds, including hydroxyl-containing compounds, carbonyl-containing compounds, free amines, and free carboxylic acids, were separated by SFC and compared with results from a commercial C18-bonded phase. While the results clearly show that the PS deactivated particles were more inert than the C18-bonded phase, better deactivation methods are still needed for separation of free acids and alkylamines.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Uveal Tumors

We detected seven tumors with magnetic resonance imaging, which demonstrate some of the uses and limitations of this diagnostic technique. In one patient, the correct diagnosis of extraocular extension was demonstrated with magnetic resonance imaging when both clinical and ultrasonographic data were not diagnostic. In another case, an extremely small area of extraocular extension was detected with ultrasound evaluation but was not noted on magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging is highly reliable in the detection of intraocular tumors. In pigmented uveal melanomas it is both sensitive and highly specific. In amelanotic processes magnetic resonance imaging can identify a mass but cannot always adequately characterize it. Further experience will be necessary to determine the proper role of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of uveal tumors.
Natural and Semisynthetic Mammea-Type Isoprenylated Dihydroxycoumarins Uncouple Cellular Respiration

In an effort to identify natural product-based molecular-targeted antitumor agents, mammea-type coumarins from the tropical/subtropical plant Mammea americana were found to inhibit the activation of HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor-1) in human breast and prostate tumor cells. In addition to the recently reported mammea E/BB (15), bioassay-guided fractionation of the active extract yielded 14 mammea-type coumarins including three new compounds, mammea F/BB (1), mammea F/BA (2), and mammea C/AA (3). The absolute configuration of C-1′ in 1 was determined by the modified Mosher’s method on a methylated derivative. These coumarins were evaluated for their effects on mitochondrial respiration, HIF-1 signaling, and tumor cell proliferation/viability. Acetylation of 1 afforded a triacetoxylated product (A-2) that inhibited HIF-1 activation with increased potency in both T47D (IC50 0.83 μM for hypoxia-induced) and PC-3 cells (IC50 0.94 μM for hypoxia-induced). Coumarins possessing a 6-prenyl-8-(3-methyloxobutyl) su...
Comparison of ready biodegradation estimation methods for fragrance materials

Abstract Biodegradability is fundamental to the assessment of environmental exposure and risk from organic chemicals. Predictive models can be used to pursue both regulatory and chemical design (green chemistry) objectives, which are most effectively met when models are easy to use and available free of charge. The objective of this work was to evaluate no-cost estimation programs with respect to prediction of ready biodegradability. Fragrance materials, which are structurally diverse and have significant exposure potential, were used for this purpose. Using a database of 222 fragrance compounds with measured ready biodegradability, 10 models were compared on the basis of overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), a measure of quality for binary classification. The 10 models were VEGA© Non-Interactive Client, START (Toxtree©), Biowin©1–6, and two models based on inductive machine learning. Applicability domain (AD) was also considered. Overall accuracy was ca. 70% and varied little over all models, but sensitivity, specificity and MCC showed wider variation. Based on MCC, the best models for fragrance compounds were Biowin6, VEGA and Biowin3. VEGA performance was slightly better for the 0.8). However, removing compounds with one and only one quaternary carbon yielded similar improvement in predictivity for VEGA, START, and Biowin3/6, with a smaller penalty in reduced coverage. Of the nine compounds for which the eight models (VEGA, START, Biowin1–6) all disagreed with the measured value, measured analog data were available for seven, and all supported the predicted value. VEGA, Biowin3 and Biowin6 are judged suitable for ready biodegradability screening of fragrance compounds.
X-ray study of competence development in Bacillus subtilis.

Pre-competent and competent cultures of Bacillus subtilis were x-irradiated before and after centrifugal separation of cells in a Renografin density gradient. Pre-competent cultures have no cells at the radiosensitivity of the cells in the bulk competent culture, but there is a substantial fraction of cells in a multi-target state, with heterogeneous target numbers. On reaching maximal competence, the survival becomes entirely linear in radiosensitivity. Irradiation of the separated competent cells shows that competence development correlates with disappearance of multi-target cells from the non-competent band of cells and the appearance of single-target cells in the competent band at a radiosensitivity equal to that of the bulk competent culture. Thus the multi-target state may be a required stage in the development of competence in this system.
DSM-5 and Psychiatric Genetics — Round Hole, Meet Square Peg

It is useful to consider genetic variation as either common (e.g., an allele found in .5% of the population) or rare because these categories of variation are analyzed using different approaches and have different properties. Most importantly, for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), common genetic variation (e.g., single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP]) is associated with very small effect sizes given evolution constraints on deleterious variation (negative or purifying selection), whereas rare variation can be associated with a much wider range of effect sizes. Chaste et al. (1) look at common variation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to answer questions about relationships between clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Enormous advances have been made in understanding of the genomic architecture of ASD, including the role of common and rare variation. There is compelling evidence from multiple studies that common variation represents the major proportion of the genetic risk for ASD (see (2) and citations therein). However, no SNP has been reliably associated with ASD to date because of small effect sizes. Until studies include many thousands of cases, it is exceedingly unlikely that many replicated common variation findings will be made in ASD. There has been much more success with gene discovery in ASD when focusing on rare variation. This increased success is due partly to the fact that there is a significant amount of de novo mutation in ASD: with de novo mutation being quite rare, even a few cases with de novo deleterious variation in a given gene are sufficient to provide statistically significant support for that gene in ASD (see (3) and citations therein). Although the effect size for discoverable rare variation is higher than that of common variation, the total variance explained by rare variation is quite low. Gaugler et al. (2) showed that within a given family with ASD, a rare de novo copy number variant (CNV) or single nucleotide variant can often be the difference between an ASD diagnosis or no ASD diagnosis; however, there must be a “genetic background” in the family, defined by multiple inherited SNPs and other genetic variation, that is a critical part of the architecture in that family. In other words, there appears to be risk in the family in most cases in the form of a multiplicity of common variation, and higher risk rare variation pushes an individual in that family over a liability threshold to manifest with an NDD. This model can explain why risk of family recurrence is high in ASD, while, at the same time, affected sibling or relative pairs within a family may have different rare risk variants, as first shown with CNV and, more recently, with single nucleotide variant (4,5). Chaste et al. study a large (N = 2576 families) and behaviorally well-phenotyped ASD sample (the Simons Simplex Collection) to ask whether subgrouping to enhance phenotypic homogeneity increases the ability to make SNP
The determination of the acoustic parameters of volcanic rocks from compressional velocity measurements

Abstract A statistical analysis was made of the relationship of various acoustic parameters of volcanic rocks to compressional wave velocities for data obtained in a volcanic region in Nevada. Some additional samples, chiefly granitic rocks, were also included in the study to extend the range of parameters and the variety of siliceous rock types sampled. Laboratory acoustic measurements obtained on 62 dry core samples were grouped with similar measurements obtained from geophysical logging devices at several depth intervals in a hole from which 15 of the core samples had been obtained. The effects of lithostatic and hydrostatic load on changing the rock acoustic parameters measured in the hole were noticeable when compared with the laboratory measurements on the same core. The results of the analyses determined by grouping all of the data, however, indicate that dynamic Young's, shear and bulk modulus, shear velocity, shear and compressional characteristic impedance, as well as amplitude and energy reflection coefficients may be reliably estimated on the basis of the compressional wave velocities of the rocks investigated. Less precise estimates can be made of density based on the rock compressional velocity. The possible extension of these relationships to include many siliceous rocks is suggested.
Strengthening mechanisms in deformation processed composite materials

Summary The higher strength of deformation processed composite materials and the larger Hall-Petch slopes for the FCC-BCC DPCMs as compared to similar layered materials provide clues to the strengthening mechanisms in these materials. The data presented suggests that dislocation barrier strengthening can not be the only mechanism active. Perhaps a more appropriate view of the strengthening mechanism in these materials would be a combination of the enhanced work hardening and dislocation barrier models. However, future research will need to address discrepancies between the predicted and observed dislocation densities, the effectiveness of the various interfaces as dislocation barriers, the differences in the amount of interfacial area, and textures developed during processing in order to form a comprehensive and accurate explanation of strengthening in these materials.
Specificity of the spermidine requirement for the replication of ΦX174 DNA by cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli

Abstract A new experimental approach for assessing the biological significance of spermidine interactions in isolated systems is applied to the stimulation by spermidine of the conversion of ΦX174 virion DNA to its replicative form by cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli . At 2.5 mM Mg 2+ , spermidine activated the reaction 20-fold. Varying the spermidine concentration affected both the rate and extent of this DNA synthetic reaction without altering the nature of the reaction products. We evaluated the biological significance of the spermidine requirement by measuring reaction rates in the presence of a homologous series of spermidine analogs of known activity in vivo. There was a lack of specificity, in that all of these analogs were capable of efficiently substituting for spermidine in stimulating the reaction rate. The relevance of this in vitro spermidine stimulation to Escherichia coli chromosome replication in vivo is discussed in light of the results obtained with the spermidine analogs.
Disturbance and the rising tide: the challenge of biodiversity management on low-island ecosystems

Sea-level rise presents an imminent threat to freshwater-dependent ecosystems on small oceanic islands, which often harbor rare and endemic taxa. Conservation of these assemblages is complicated by feedbacks between sea level and recurring pulse disturbances (eg hurricanes, fire). Once sea level reaches a critical level, the transition from a landscape characterized by mesophytic upland forests and freshwater wetlands to one dominated by mangroves can occur suddenly, following a single storm-surge event. We document such a trajectory, unfolding today in the Florida Keys. With sea level projected to rise substantially during the next century, ex-situ actions may be needed to conserve individual species of special concern. However, within existing public conservation units, managers have a responsibility to conserve extant biodiversity. We propose a strategy that combines the identification and intensive management of the most defensible core sites within a broader reserve system, in which refugia for biota facing local extirpation may be sought.
Comparative efficacy of different modalities for treatment of right heart thrombi in transit: a pooled analysis

The objective was to compare the efficacy of treatment options for right heart thrombi (RHT) in transit. All published reports between 1992 and 2013 were identified and pooled. We analyzed 328 patients with RHT and pulmonary embolism (PE). The treatments administered were none in 11 patients (3.4%), anticoagulation (AC) with heparin in 70 patients (21.3%), thrombolytics in 122 patients (37.2%), catheter-related treatments in five patients (1.5%) and surgical embolectomy in 120 patients (36.6%). The overall short-term mortality for the entire cohort was 23.2%. The mortality rate associated with no therapy was highest at 90.9%. The mortality associated with AC alone was significantly higher than surgical embolectomy or thrombolysis (37.1% vs 18.3% vs 13.7%, respectively). In univariate analysis, any therapy was better than no therapy with a favorable odds of 16.92 (95% CI 2.05-139.87) for AC, 61.76 (95% CI 7.42-513.81) for thrombolysis and 44.54 (95% CI 5.42-366.32) for surgical embolectomy. In multivariate analysis with age and hemodynamic status entered as covariates, thrombolytic therapy was better than AC with favorable odds of 4.83 (95% CI 1.52-15.36). Similarly, there was a trend in favor of surgical embolectomy with an odds of 2.61 (95% CI 0.90-7.58). The estimated probability of survival in hemodynamically unstable patients with AC, surgical embolectomy and thrombolysis was 47.7%, 70.45% and 81.5%, respectively. There was no significantly increased risk of complications with thrombolytic therapy. In conclusion, left untreated, patients with RHT and PE have very high mortality. Aggressive management with thrombolysis or surgical thrombectomy may be more effective than AC alone in the management of these patients.
A dynamic antenna scheduling strategy for multi-user MIMO communications

The paper develops a dynamic antenna scheduling strategy for downlink MIMO communications, where the transmitted signal for each user is beamformed towards a selected subset of receive antennas at this user. The proposed method removes the condition on the number of transmit-receive antennas in comparison to traditional zero-forcing and time-scheduling strategies. By characterizing the probability distribution of the so-called signal-to-leakage-plus-noise (SLNR) ratio, we show that there is an optimal set of receive antennas that maximizes the system performance for each channel realization. This fact is used to propose an antenna scheduling scheme that leads to improvements in terms of SINR outage probabilities.
Task allocation in the star graph

The star graph has been known as an attractive candidate for interconnecting a large number of processors. The hierarchy of the star graph allows the assignment of its special subgraphs (substars), which have the same topological features as the original graph, to a sequence of incoming tasks. The paper proposes a new code, called star code (SC), to recognize available substars of the required size in the star graph. It is shown that task allocation based on the SC is statically optimal. The recognition ability of a given SC or a class of SC's is derived. The optimal number of SC's required for the complete substar recognition in an n-dimensional star is shown to be 2/sup n-2/. >
Hierarchical Bayesian approach for population dynamics modelling of fish complexes without species-specific data

Jiao, Y., Hayes, C., and Cortes, E. 2009. Hierarchical Bayesian approach for population dynamics modelling of fish complexes without species-specific data. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 367-377.Modelling the population dynamics of fish complexes is challenging, and many species have been assessed and managed as a complex that was treated as a single species. Two Bayesian state-space surplus production models with multilevel priors (hierarchical models) were developed to simulate variability in population growth rates of species in a complex, using the hammerhead shark complex (Sphyrna spp.) of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the US as an example. The complex consists of three species: scalloped (Sphyrna lewini), great (Sphyrna mokarran), and smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena). Bayesian state-space surplus production models with multilevel priors fitted the hammerhead data better than a model based on single-level priors. The hierarchical Bayesian approach represents an intermediate strategy between traditional models that do not include variability among species, and highly parameterized models that assign an estimate of parameters to each species. By ignoring the variability among species, confidence intervals of the estimates of stock status indicators can be unrealistically narrow, possibly leading to high-risk management strategies being adopted. Use of multilevel priors in a hierarchical Bayesian approach is suggested for future hammerhead shark stock assessments and for modelling fish complexes lacking species-specific data.
Research on Adolescence in the Twenty-First Century

Recent methodological advances have allowed empirical research on adolescence to do better justice to theoretical models. Organized by a life course framework, this review covers the state of contemporary research on adolescents' physical, psychological, interpersonal, and institutional pathways; how these pathways connect within primary ecological contexts; and how they relate to broader patterns of societal stratification and historical change. Looking forward, it also emphasizes three future challenges/opportunities, including efforts to illuminate biosocial processes, link adolescence to other life stages, and account for the influence of major social changes (e.g., the new media).
Distributed algorithms with theoretic scalability analysis of radial and looped load flows for power distribution systems

Abstract This paper presents distributed algorithms for both radial and looped load flows for unbalanced, multi-phase power distribution systems. The distributed algorithms are developed from tree-based sequential algorithms. Formulas of scalability for the distributed algorithms are presented. It is shown that computation time dominates communication time in the distributed computing model. This provides benefits to real-time load flow calculations, network reconfigurations, and optimization studies that rely on load flow calculations. Also, test results match the predictions of derived formulas. This shows the formulas can be used to predict the computation time when additional processors are involved.
Protein phosphorylation cascades associated with methamphetamine-induced glial activation

Reactive gliosis is the most prominent response to diverse forms of central nervous system (CNS) injury. The signaling events that mediate this characteristic response to neural injury are under intense investigation. Several studies have demonstrated the activation of phosphoproteins within the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Janus kinase (JAK) pathways following neural insult. These signaling pathways may be involved or responsible for the glial response following injury, by virtue of their ability to phosphorylate and dynamically regulate the activity of various transcription factors. This study sought to delineate, in vivo, the relative contribution of MAPK- and JAK-signaling components to reactive gliosis as measured by induction of glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), following chemical-induced neural damage. At time points (6, 24, and 48 h) following methamphetamine (METH, 10 mg/kg x 4, s.c.) administration, female C57BL/6J mice were sacrificed by focused microwave irradiation, a technique that preserves steady-state phosphorylation. Striatal (target) and nontarget (hippocampus) homogenates were assayed for METH-induced changes in markers of dopamine (DA) neuron integrity as well as differences in the levels of activated phosphoproteins. GFAP upregulation occurred as early as 6 h, reaching a threefold induction 48 h following METH exposure. Neurotoxicant-induced reductions in striatal levels of DA and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) paralleled the temporal profile of GFAP induction. Blots of striatal homogenates, probed with phosphorylation-state specific antibodies, demonstrated significant changes in activated forms of extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), c-jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK), MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK1/2), 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70 S6), cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). MAPK-related phosphoproteins exhibited an activation profile that peaked at 6 h, remained significantly increased at 24, and fell to baseline levels 48 h following neurotoxicant treatment. The ribosomal S6 kinase was enhanced over 60% for all time points examined. Immunoreactivity profiles for the transcription factors CREB and STAT3 indicated maximal increases in phosphorylation occurring at 24 h, and measuring greater than 2- or 17-fold, respectively. Specific signaling events were found to occur with a time course suggestive of their involvement in the gliotic response. The toxicant-induced activation of these growth-associated signaling cascades suggests that these pathways could be obligatory for the triggering and/or persistence of reactive gliosis and may therefore serve as potential targets for modulation of glial response to neural damage.
Child Abuse, Street Victimization, and Substance Use Among Homeless Young Adults

Although previous research documents high rates of child abuse, street victimization, and substance use among homeless youth, few studies have investigated these three constructs simultaneously, and thus little is known about how various forms of victimization are uniquely associated with substance use among this population. The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship among child sexual and physical abuse, street victimization, and partner violence with substance use among 172 homeless young adults. Path analysis results revealed that males and those who reported parental drug problems were significantly more likely to have higher rates of substance use. Those who suffered more childhood physical and sexual abuse and those who experienced more types of relationship violence were more likely to report greater frequency of substance use. The intersection of various forms of victimization with substance use may have important implications for service providers working with this population.
Laser initiation and radiofrequency sustainment of seeded air plasmas

Summary form only given. Seeded gas plasmas and air constituents have been created by a 193 nm laser and radiofrequency sources. We have obtained 10/sup 14//cm/sup 3/ plasma densities with initial electron temperatures of 0.3 eV in TMAE (tetrakis (dimethylamino) ethylene) by laser photoionization. We developed a fast Langmuir probe analysis of plasma decay independent of ion species mix. Langmuir probe and optical emission data illustrating the density and temperature decay with TMAE mixed with nitrogen is presented. Simulations of antenna coupling, wave frequencies, wave propagation, and power absorption are compared with experimental observations for radiofrequency plasma sources. The source produces plasma densities of 2/spl times/10/sub 13//cm/sup 3/ in an 8500 cm/sup 3/ volume at electron temperatures of 5 eV in 10 mTorr Ar in a nonuniform magnetic field. Radiofrequency plasma production at pressures from 2700 Torr using Ar and laser initiated TMAE plasmas as seeds will be discussed.