cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Protein Kinase D in the Pleckstrin Homology Domain Leads to Activation

Protein kinase D (PKD) is a member of the AGC family of Ser/Thr kinases and is distantly related to protein kinase C (PKC). Formerly known as PKCμ, PKD contains protein domains not found in conventional PKC isoforms. A functional pleckstrin homology (PH) domain is critical for the regulation of PKD activity. Here we report that PKD is tyrosine-phosphorylated within the PH domain, leading to activation. This phosphorylation is mediated by a pathway that consists of the Src and Abl tyrosine kinases and occurs in response to stimulation with pervanadate and oxidative stress. Mutational analysis revealed three tyrosine phosphorylation sites (Tyr432, Tyr463, and Tyr502), which are regulated by the Src-Abl pathway, and phosphorylation of only one of these (Tyr463) leads to PKD activation. By using a phospho-specific antibody, we show that Abl directly phosphorylates PKD at Tyr463in vitro, and in cells phosphorylation of this site is sufficient to mediate full activation of PKD. Mutation of the other two sites, Tyr432 and Tyr502, had no significant influence on PKD activity. These data reveal a tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent activation mechanism for PKD and suggest that this event contributes to the release of the autoinhibitory PKD PH domain leading to kinase activation and downstream responses.
THIONUCLEOSIDE DISULFIDES AS COVALENT CONSTRAINTS OF DNA CONFORMATION

Abstract Full details of a new strategy for cross-linking of duplex oligonucleotides are described. A direct base-to-base disulfide bond is formed by oxidation of two appropriately positioned thionucleoside bases. Cross-link formation between 4-thio-2′-deoxyuridine and 6-thio-2′-deoxyinosine is demonstrated in three sequence contexts (3′ to 3′, 5′ to 5′, and opposed). Disulfide formation occurs in high yield in both duplex and hairpin DNA. Molecular modeling and circular dichroism were used to demonstrate minimal distortion of the constrained B-DNA double helix.
Temperature and Water Content Effects on Carbon Mineralization for Sapric Soil Material

Histosols, often formed in wetland environments, provide an important global soil carbon (C) stock. Mineralization of soil organic C is an important process with broad implications for nutrient availability, soil quality, and global change. Temperature and moisture effects on C mineralization have been widely studied, but little information is available for temperature and moisture effects on C mineralization from recalcitrant sapric soil materials of warm climate Histosols. Our objectives were to determine Q 10 values (the factor by which the reaction rate increases with each 10 °C rise in temperature) for sapric soil material collected from a warm climate Histosol, to examine the influence of water content on Q 10, and to assess the optimum soil moisture condition for C mineralization. A laboratory incubation (48 h duration) was conducted including sapric soil material at three moisture conditions; approximately 0.15, 0.30, and 0.45 m3 m−3 water content by volume; and two temperatures; 25 and 37 °C. Calculated values for Q 10 were generally consistent with previous studies for other soil materials. Results indicated highest mineralization rates for both temperatures occurred at 0.30 m3 m−3 volumetric water content, corresponding to approximately 50 % water-filled pore space. But values for Q 10 increased as water content increased, demonstrating the important relationship between moisture and temperature effects for C mineralization for these organic soil materials.
Leakage of heart fatty acid binding protein with ischemia and reperfusion in the rat

Fatty acids and their metabolites have been implicated as a cause of myocardial damage during ischemia. Fatty acid binding protein (FABP), an abundant low molecular weight protein present in the cytosol of myocytes, has been postulated to be a key fatty acid carrier protein in the myocardium. Postulating that loss of FABP during ischemia could cause an increase in unbound intracellular fatty acids contributing to myocardial damage, we measured plasma FABP levels during 60 min of myocardial ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion in the rat. Peak levels were seen 15 min after reperfusion. Plasma levels were higher with larger areas of myocardial ischemia (1720 ± 528 ng/ml vs. 216 ± 76 ng/ml with smaller areas, P < 0.02). Tissue levels after 60 min of ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion were decreased by over 50%, (1.0 ± 0.3 mg FABP/g wet wt compared with 2.9 ± 0.4 mg FABP/g wet wt in normal myocardium, P < 0.005). The data is consistent with the proposal that loss of FABP contributes to the myocardial damage associated with ischemia and reperfusion. Additional studies are needed to determine the exact role of FABP in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism in the heart.
Linear and branching formats in culture assimilator training

Abstract The task of persons trained for interaction in a new cultural environment is conceived of as a decision-making task where the trainee generates and evaluates alternative acts. Different structures for presenting training materials may foster development of internalized standards for generation and evaluation of alternative acts to different degrees. Tue present study compares a linear with a branching structure. The linear structure was found to (1) require more time than the branching structure, (2) result in fewer correct solutions of relatively easy training items, and (3) result in more correct solutions of relatively difficult training items.
A roughness-penalty view of kernel smoothing

Abstract It has been shown that a smoothing spline estimate is an equivalent kernel estimate. In this paper, we show that both the Nadaraya–Watson and local linear kernel estimators are equivalent penalized estimators.
Effects of two types of chairs on stature change and comfort for individuals with healthy and herniated discs

The objective of this study was to determine if stature change and perceived comfort are significantly different for individuals with either healthy or herniated discs when seated in a conventional chair or a sit-stand chair. Sixteen subjects were studied (5 young/healthy, 6 old/healthy, 5 old/herniated). Subjects performed a search task on a computer screen during two 2 h sessions for two consecutive days, with a different chair each day. Changes in stature were measured with a stadiometer. General comfort and body parts discomfort rating scales were administered every 30 min. The main findings were: (1) for all subjects, the sit-stand chair produces less height loss than the conventional chair; and (2) for both chairs, subjects with herniated discs lost more height than subjects with healthy discs. A positive correlation was observed for height loss and age with the sit-stand chair. Subjects with herniated discs felt relatively more uncomfortable in the conventional chair and more comfortable in the sit-stand chair compared to subjects with healthy discs. Both old healthy and young healthy subjects felt more comfortable in the conventional chair in comparison to the sit-stand chair. But, old healthy subjects had a relatively greater perception of comfort in the conventional chair compared with the younger subjects.
Effect of testosterone, dexamethasone and hypophysectomy on membranous whorls in the adrenal gland of the Mongolian gerbil†

The effect of stress-induced release of ACTH or suppression of ACTH release on concentric whorls of rough endoplasmic reticulum has been studied in the adrenal gland of the Mongolian gerbil. The border zone between the zona fasciculata and reticularis appears to be a zone of transition, and stress may transform these cells into typical zona fasciculata cells. Absence (hypophysectomy) or reduction (testosterone, dexamethasone) of ACTH however causes neither atrophy nor hypertrophy of whorls. The stress of saline injections for five days caused disappearance of whorls and a rise in blood cortisol to 1.5 times that in controls. Whorls were replaced by a focal accumulation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Testosterone or dexamethasone as well as transaural hypophysectomy prevented the disappearance of whorls in spite of the stress of injection. Testosterone caused a 50% reduction in blood cortisol levels whereas both dexamethasone and hypophysectomy reduced blood cortisol to 25% of that in controls.
Positive Chronotropic Actions of Parathyroid Hormone and Parathyroid Hormone–Related Peptide Are Associated With Increases in the Current, If, and the Slope of the Pacemaker Potential

Background The classic calciotropic hormone parathyroid hormone (PTH) and its paracrine factor parathyroid hormone–related protein (PTHrP) both increase heart rate. Methods and Results We used standard electrophysiological techniques to study the effects of PTH and PTHrP on isolated rabbit sinus node, isolated canine Purkinje fibers, and disaggregated rabbit sinus node myocytes. Sinus node maximum diastolic potential, activation voltage, and amplitude were unchanged by PTH or PTHrP ( P >.05). However, the slope of phase 4 and the automatic rate were increased at PTH and PTHrP ≥10 nmol/L ( P I f pacemaker current in sinus node. PTH 12.5 nmol/L and PTHrP 12.5 to 18 nmol/L increased I f at −65 mV by 68±41% (n=5) and 69±50% (n=5), respectively. Actions of both agents were reversible. The increase in I f appeared to result from a change in maximal conductance and not a shift in the voltage dependence of activation. Conclusions These observations provide, for the first time, direct electrophysiological support for the chronotropic actions of PTH and PTHrP. They suggest that classic hormones and paracrine factors can have multiple functions and that in the case of PTH and PTHrP, a newly recognized action is to alter automaticity directly.
Transesophageal Echocardiographic Assessment of Lesions of the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract and Pulmonic Valve

To establish the role of biplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the assessment of congenital and acquired lesions involving the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and pulmonic valve (PV), 28 consecutive RVOT and PV lesions in 22 consecutive patients were studied by two-dimensional and color Doppler transthoracic echocardiograms (n = 22), horizontal (n = 22) and vertical (n = 22) plane TEEs, cardiac catheterization (n = 15), cardiac surgery (n = 6), and magnetic resonance imaging (n = 1). Sixteen patients had congenital lesions, and six had acquired lesions. Longitudinal TEE clearly imaged 25 of 28 abnormalities, transverse TEE clearly imaged 12 of 28, and transthoracic echocardiography clearly imaged 9 of 28. Two-dimensional TEE scanning revealed the lesion or site of stenosis. Color Doppler revealed conspicuous mosaic jets in relation to a structural abnormality in most cases. Longitudinal TEE was more sensitive in the detection of small vegetations of the PV, in the depiction of PV doming in cases of valvar pulmonic stenosis, and in the display of the RVOT and PV so that the longitudinal extent of involvement of larger masses could be appreciated. However, longitudinal TEE was not able to assess the gradient of a stenosis at the RVOT or PV level in any case. Biplane TEE is helpful in the anatomic assessment of congenital and acquired lesions of the RVOT and PV in adults. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, January 1996)
Aerodynamic braking of high speed ground transportation vehicles.

The drag effectiveness of aerodynamic brakes arranged in series on a train-like vehicle was investigated. Fixed- and moving-model testing techniques were used in order to determine the importance of proper vehicle-ground interference simulation. Fixed-model tests were carried out on a sting-mounted model: alone; with a fixed ground plane; and in proximity to an image model. Moving-model tests were conducted in a vertical slide-wire facility with and without a ground plane. Results from investigations of one brake configuration are presented which show the effect of the number of brakes in the set and of spacing between brakes.
Comparison of learning and generalization capabilities of the Kak and the backpropagation algorithms

Abstract This paper investigates the performance of the Kak algorithms for training of feedforward neural networks. It is found that the Backpropagation algorithm is much more computation-intensive than the Kak algorithms that have comparable generalization performance. Results of computer simulations with standard benchmark problems such as XOR, encoder/decoder, classification, and time series prediction are presented.
Optimization of processing conditions for bulk ceramic Li doped BSCCO

Abstract The effects of Li doping on the superconducting compound Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox (BSCCO 2212) have been studied by considering Li substitution for Sr or Cu and Li additions to stoichiometric BSCCO. Extensive investigations of the processing-structure-property relationships for a wide variety of Li-doped 2212 stoichiometries have been performed using ceramic pellets. As Li doping reduces the melting temperature bp as much as 140°C, a broad range of sintering temperatures has been studied. Sintering conditions have been optimiped for Tc. Li substitution for Cu and Sr has been shown to increase the onset and zero resistance temperatures. Inductively coupled argon plasma emission (ICP) analpsis for the powders and sintered pellets showed some loss of Li during the initial formation of 2212 phase. Microstructural studies have also been carried out by scanning eletron microscopy (SEM).
The Domain Management model: A tool for teaching and management of older adults in emergency departments

Older adults in emergency departments (EDs) can have complicated health problems that defy straightforward diagnosis and management. Implementation of the 11 core principles in the geriatric emergency care model requires changes in care processes. The Domain Management Model (DMM) is one solution to organize care efficiently using a standard language. Its use is consistent with the geriatric model. Patients' problems are organized into one of four domains: I. Medical/Surgical Issues; II. Mental Status/Emotions/Coping; III. Physical Function; and IV. Living Environment (A. Physical, B. Social, and C. Financial). Specific geriatric cases illustrate improved communication using these standard domains. This model can educate health care staff, facilitate team care, improve flow of relevant information, improve decision making, and facilitate more meaningful interactions with patients.
Structure and energies of CH2X+ (XNH2, PH2, OH, SH, F and Cl) cations and their protonated CH2XH2+ and CH3X2+ dications

Abstract Structures and energies of CH 2 X + (XNH 2 , PH 2 , OH, SH, F and Cl) cations and their protonated CH 2 XH 2+ and CH 3 X 2+ dications [Chemistry in Superacids. Part 32. For Part 31, see: G. Rasul, G.K.S. Prakash, G.A. Olah, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94 (1997) 11 159] were calculated using ab initio molecular orbital theory. These data are compared with the experimental gas phase data. Based on calculated energy, thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of the dications are discussed. Proton affinities and NMR chemical shifts of some of these ions were also calculated. The possible role of the CH 2 XH 2+ dications in superacidic media is discussed.
Cholesterol oxidation reduces Ca2+ + Mg2+-ATPase activity, interdigitation, and increases fluidity of brain synaptic plasma membranes

These experiments examined effects of cholesterol oxidation on Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, Na(+)+K(+)-ATPase activity, and membrane structure of brain synaptic plasma membranes (SPM). Cholesterol oxidase [E.C.1.1.3.6 from Brevibacterium sp.] was used to oxidize cholesterol. Two cholesterol pools were identified in synaptosomal membranes based on their accessibility to cholesterol oxidase. A rapidly oxidized cholesterol pool was observed with a 1t1/2 of 1.19 +/- 0.09 min and a second pool with a 2t1/2 of 38.30 +/- 4.16 min. Activity of Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)-ATPase was inhibited by low levels of cholesterol oxidation. Ten percent cholesterol oxidation, for example, resulted in approximately 35% percent inhibition of Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)-ATPase activity. After 13% cholesterol oxidation, further inhibition of Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)-ATPase activity was not observed. Activity of Na(+)+K(+)-ATPase was not affected by different levels of cholesterol oxidation (5%-40%). SPM interdigitation was significantly reduced and fluidity was significantly increased by cholesterol oxidation. The relationship observed between SPM interdigitation and Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)-ATPase activity was consistent with studies using model membranes [7]. Brain SPM function and structure were altered by relatively low levels of cholesterol oxidation and is a new approach to understanding cholesterol dynamics and neuronal function. The sensitivity of brain SPM to cholesterol oxidation may be important with respect to the proposed association between oxygen free radicals and certain neurodegenerative diseases.
Epitaxy of Si:C on Si(001) via methyldichlorosilane

Abstract Methyldichlorosilane (CH 3 SiHCl 2 ) is compared to methylsilane (CH 3 SiH 3 ) for vapor phase epitaxy of cubic silicon - carbon (NO :) (Si:C) alloys on Si (001). Parameters of interest are growth rate, percent carbon and crystallinity. Carbon incorporation efficiency and experimental window for epitaxial growth are similar for both precursors. The two precursors differ in Si contribution to the film growth rate.
Gas-driven subharmonic waves in a vibrated two-phase granular material

Vibrated powders exhibit striking phenomena: subharmonic waves, oscillons, convection, heaping, and even bubbling. We demonstrate novel rectangular profile subharmonic waves for vibrated granular material, that occur uniquely in the two-phase case of grains, and a fluid, such as air. These waves differ substantially from those for the gas-free case, exhibit different dispersion relations, and occur for specific shaking parameters and air pressure, understandable with gas-particle flow models. These waves occur when the gas diffusively penetrates the granular layer in a time comparable to the shaker period. As the pressure is lowered towards P =0, the granular-gas system exhibits a Knudsen regime. This instability provides an opportunity to quantitatively test models of two-phase flow.
Reliability (or lack thereof) of on-line preference revelation

Networks permitting anonymous contributions continue to expand and flourish. In some networks, the reliability of a contribution is not of particular importance. In other settings, however, the development of a network is driven by specific purposes which make the reliability of information exchanged of significant importance. One such situation involves the use of information markets for aggregating individuals' preferences on new or emerging technologies. At this point, there remains skepticism concerning the reliability of the preference revelations in such markets and thus the resulting preference aggregations and rankings of emerging technologies. In this paper, we study the reliability of on-line preference revelation using a series of controlled laboratory experiments. Our analysis includes individuals' pre- and post-experiment rankings of technologies, individual trading and accumulation activities during an electronics market experiment, the final experimental market outcomes, and a ranking of the same technologies by a panel of experts from a Fortune 5 company. In addition, as a final step, we allowed each participant to actually select and keep a unit of one of the technologies at zero price (free). That is, we were able to observe each participant's actual final true preference from the set of technologies. Outcome from information market is much consistent with expert panel.Information market does influence individual preferences.There is considerable inconsistency between survey and individual true preferences.
Glycine reduces early renal parenchymal uptake of cisplatin

Glycine reduces early renal parenchymal uptake of cisplatin. We evaluated the effect of glycine infusions on the early renal uptake of cisplatin, measured one hour after cisplatin was injected, as well as five days following cisplatin administration. Glycine (1.25 mmol per 100 g body wt) markedly attenuated the early uptake of platinum by the kidney, an effect not Observed with control infusions of saline or of L-alanine. The kidney content of platinum at five days, on the other hand, was similar in glycine-treated animals and saline controls. Early inhibition of renal uptake of platinum may be responsible for glycine's protective action in experimental cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
Chemical modification of a rabbit immunoglobulin allotypic specificity

Abstract The group d allotypes ( d 11 and d 12) of rabbit IgG can be distinguished serologically by specific antisera and chemically by a methionine/threonine substitution. The methionine residue which correlates with d 11 was modified by chloramine T and iodoacetic acid to methionine sulfoxide and carboxymethyl-methionine, respectively. The chemical modification of the d 11 protein was monitored by the loss in d 11 antigenic specificity and by resistance to CNBr attack.
An investigation of the basis of a current hypothesis for the lack of G-banding in plant chromosomes.

Abstract A current hypothesis for the lack of G-banding in plant chromosomes is based on the assumption that plant chromosomes are more compact than animal chromosomes. We tested the basis of the hypothesis by measuring lengths and volumes of plant and animal chromosomes that had been similarly treated. We conclude there is no consistent difference in the compaction of plant vs animal chromosomes.
The Galactic deuterium gradient

The Galactic deuterium abundance gradient has been determined from observations of DCN in Galactic molecular clouds. This is the only way to observe D throughout the Galaxy because the molecular clouds are not limited to the 2 kpc region around the Sun observed with FUSE and from DI. We used an astrochemistry model and the DCN/HCN ratios to estimate the underlying D/H ratios in 16 molecular clouds including five in the Galactic Center. The resulting positive Galactic D gradient and reduced Galactic Center D/H ratio imply that there are no significant Galactic sources of D, there is continuous infall of low-metallicity gas into the Galaxy, and that deuterium is cosmological.
Demand Estimation from Censored Observations with Inventory Record Inaccuracy

A retailer cannot sell more than it has in stock; therefore, its sales observations are a censored representation of the underlying demand process. When a retailer forecasts demand based on past sales observations, it requires an estimation approach that accounts for this censoring. Several authors have analyzed inventory management with demand learning in environments with censored observations, but the authors assume that inventory levels are known and hence that stockouts are observed. However, firms often do not know how many units of inventory are available to meet demand, a phenomenon known as inventory record inaccuracy. We investigate the impact of this unknown on demand estimation in an environment with censored observations. When the firm does not account for inventory uncertainty when estimating demand, we discover and characterize a systematic downward bias in demand estimation under typical assumptions on the distribution of inventory record inaccuracies. We propose and test a heuristic prescription that relies on a single error statistic and that sharply reduces this bias.
The variables related to public acceptance of evolution in the United States

The current study explores variables related to public acceptance of evolution in the United States by state. Data on acceptance of evolution, religiosity, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree attainment, educational attainment, high school dropout rate, average teacher salary, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were analyzed for the 50 states. Employing secondary data analysis, bivariate correlations were used to investigate the relationship between US acceptance of evolution and each variable. As predicted, there was a strong negative correlation between acceptance of evolution and religiosity and a strong positive relationship between acceptance and science degrees awarded, bachelor degree attainment, advanced degree attainment, average teacher salary, and GDP per capita. Several implications for evolution education and acceptance are discussed.
Azithromycin Activity Against Mycobacterium avium Complex Lung Disease in Patients Who Were Not Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

We initiated a prospective trial of an azithromycin-containing regimen for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease; the initial 4 months of therapy were with azithromycin (600 mg/d) alone. The primary study endpoint was microbiological response measured at 4 and 6 months of therapy. Of 29 patients enrolled in the study, 23 completed therapy. Fifty-two percent of these 23 patients were male, and 65% were smokers. All 23 patients were older than 45 years of age; 83% had bilateral disease, and 48% had fibrocavitary disease. Macrolide (clarithromycin)-susceptible MAC isolates were recovered from these 23 patients before treatment. Cultures of sputum from 38% of these patients became negative, and the positivity of cultures of sputum from 76% of these patients was significantly reduced. Sixty-eight percent of sputum cultures were strongly positive (> 200 colonies) before therapy, while only 27% were strongly positive after therapy. Although most patients continued to receive 600 mg of azithromycin/d, the high incidence of gastrointestinal side effects (76%) and altered hearing (41%) suggests the need for lower or less frequent dosing. Macrolide (clarithromycin) resistance did not develop in any MAC isolates during monotherapy. These results, which demonstrate that azithromycin is active against MAC pulmonary disease, provide a rationale to include this drug in the initial multidrug regimens recommended for the treatment of this disease.
Reversing Cyclic Elastic Demands on Structures During Earthquakes and Applications to Ductility Requirements

Abstract The study of all earthquake‐induced oscillator response peaks from selected records shows how these peaks decrease in amplitude with the number of cycles attaining them. These studies concentrate on the ratio between the peak amplitudes of response experienced throughout the duration of a given number of cycles and the maximum response. The ratio shows a trend that is fairly independent of the structure's period, the epicentral distance, and the earthquake magnitude. If during a very large earthquake a structure is forced into displacements beyond the elastic limit it must withstand them successfully with well‐designed ductility. For long‐period structures, these inelastic displacements, if assumed to result from idealized elasto‐plastic behavior, are approximately equal to the elastic displacements under study. The trends shown here consequently indicate that the amplitudes of the elasto‐plastic displacements still attained after two, four, or eight cycles, remain at levels that are appreciably ...
Effect of Sanitizers Applied by Electrostatic Spraying on Pathogenic and Indicator Bacteria Attached to the Surface of Eggs

Abstract Research was conducted to compare the effectiveness of BioSentry 904 and Biox H applied by an electrostatic spraying system for killing populations of bacteria that are of concern to the poultry industry. Populations of pathogenic bacteria Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and the indicator bacterium Escherichia coli were applied to eggs and allowed to attach for 1 h. BioSentry 904 completely eliminated all S. enteritidis on 100, 93, and 60% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BioSentry Biox H completely eliminated all S. enteritidis on 100, 93, and 93% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BioSentry 904 completely eliminated all S. aureus on 100, 87, and 100% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BioSentry Biox H completely eliminated all S. aureus on 100, 100, and 80% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BioSentry 904 completely eliminated all L. monocytogenes on 100% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3. BioSentry Biox H completely eliminated all L. monocytogenes on 93, 87, and 73% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BioSentry 904 completely eliminated all E. coli on 93, 93, and 60% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BioSentry 904 and Biox H completely eliminated all E. coli on 93% of eggs in experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. BioSentry 904 and Biox H were extremely effective when used in conjunction with electrostatic spraying for eliminating pathogenic and indicator populations of bacteria from eggshell surfaces.
Power scheduling of universal decentralized estimation in sensor networks

We consider the optimal power scheduling problem for the decentralized estimation of a noise-corrupted deterministic signal in an inhomogeneous sensor network. Sensor observations are first quantized into discrete messages, then transmitted to a fusion center where a final estimate is generated. Supposing that the sensors use a universal decentralized quantization/estimation scheme and an uncoded quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) transmission strategy, we determine the optimal quantization and transmit power levels at local sensors so as to minimize the total transmit power, while ensuring a given mean squared error (mse) performance. The proposed power scheduling scheme suggests that the sensors with bad channels or poor observation qualities should decrease their quantization resolutions or simply become inactive in order to save power. For the remaining active sensors, their optimal quantization and transmit power levels are determined jointly by individual channel path losses, local observation noise variance, and the targeted mse performance. Numerical examples show that in inhomogeneous sensing environment, significant energy savings is possible when compared to the uniform quantization strategy.
Some like it plastic

The artist,…, like the thinker or the scientist, seeks the truth and makes his appeal.”1 The artist, however, enjoys a superior level of freedom and in doing so he “must strenuously aspire to the plasticity of sculpture, to the color of painting, and to the magic suggestiveness of music.” Plasticity is the foundation of the Manifesto of the Futurist Sculpture2: “the Futurist sculptor perceives the body and its parts as plastic zones, and will introduce into the sculptural composition twenty different materials, provided that the plastic emotion requires it.” As in the case of the radical position of Boccioni, the discovery that the body contains plastic cells, ie, cells with the ability to change into another cell type, has created skepticism, excitement, surprise, and disbelief. Because of controversial findings, which are at times impossible to reconcile,3–7 the painful process of understanding and reaching a consensus has been difficult and is not completed yet. Cells during prenatal development undergo a hierarchical progressive restriction of developmental options. This process was thought to be irreversible and inviolable in adulthood. However, several examples of transition from one cell type to another or, even more unexpectedly, from one cell lineage to a different lineage have challenged this paradigm.8–11 Such a condition is described in the study by Planat-Benard and collaborators in this issue of Circulation Research ,12 in which multipotent stromal cells isolated from adipose tissue differentiate spontaneously into cardiac myocytes in vitro. Some confusion in terminology has certainly contributed to the heated debate about stem cell plasticity. Originally, transdifferentiation was defined as an irreversible switch from one differentiated cell to another differentiated …
PV powered smart charging station for PHEVs

Abstract A huge inrush of PHEVs is envisioned in the future. There is a growing risk that, this proliferation in the number of PHEVs will trigger extreme surges in demand while charging them during rush hours. To mitigate this impact, a smart charging station is proposed in which the charging of the PHEVs is controlled in such a way that the impact of charging during peak load period is not felt on the grid. The power needed to charge the plug in hybrids comes from grid-connected photovoltaic generation or the utility or both. The three way interaction between the PV, PHEVs and the grid ensures optimal usage of available power, charging time and grid stability. The system designed to achieve the desired objective consists of a photovoltaic system, DC/DC boost converter, DC/AC bi-directional converter and DC/DC buck converter. The output of DC/DC boost converter and input of DC/AC bi-directional converter share a common DC link. A unique control strategy based on DC link voltage sensing is proposed for the above system for efficient transfer of energy.
Emotion and emotion-laden words in the bilingual lexicon

The purpose of this paper is to draw on recent studies of bilingualism and emotions to argue for three types of modifications to the current models of the bilingual lexicon. The first modification involves word categories: I will show that emotion words need to be considered as a separate class of words in the mental lexicon, represented and processed differently from abstract and concrete words. The second modification involves conceptual representations: I will demonstrate that emotion concepts vary across languages and that bilinguals' concepts may, in some cases, be distinct from those of monolingual speakers. The third modification involves emotionality: I will argue that emotionality is an important feature of the bilingual lexicon, where different languages and word types display different levels of emotionality. I will also show how differential emotionality affects code-switching and language choice in bi- and multilinguals.
Invasion of Human Skin Fibroblasts by the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi

The ability of Borrelia burgdorferi to attach to and invade human fibroblasts was investigated by scanning electron and confocal microscopy. By scanning electron microscopy, B. burgdorferi were tightly adherent to fibroblast monolayers after 24-48 h but were eliminated from the cell surface by treatment with ceftriaxone (1 microgram/mL) for 5 days. Despite the absence of visible spirochetes on the cell surface after antibiotic treatment, viable B. burgdorferi were isolated from lysates of the fibroblast monolayers. B. burgdorferi were observed in the perinuclear region within human fibroblasts by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Intracellular spirochetes specifically labeled with monoclonal anti-flagellin antibody were also identified by fluorescent laser scanning confocal microscopy. These observations suggest that B. burgdorferi can adhere to, penetrate, and invade human fibroblasts in organisms that remain viable.
Block Krylov–Schur method for large symmetric eigenvalue problems

Stewart’s Krylov–Schur algorithm offers two advantages over Sorensen’s implicitly restarted Arnoldi (IRA) algorithm. The first is ease of deflation of converged Ritz vectors, the second is the avoidance of the potential forward instability of the QR algorithm. In this paper we develop a block version of the Krylov–Schur algorithm for symmetric eigenproblems. Details of this block algorithm are discussed, including how to handle rank deficient cases and how to use varying block sizes. Numerical results on the efficiency of the block Krylov–Schur method are reported.
Two-loop O( alpha sGFM2Q) heavy-quark corrections to the interactions between Higgs and intermediate bosons.

By means of a low-energy theorem, we analyze at $O({\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}{G}_{F}{M}_{Q}^{2})$ the shifts in the standard-model ${W}^{+}{W}^{\ensuremath{-}}H$ and $\mathrm{ZZH}$ couplings induced by virtual high-mass quarks $Q$ with ${M}_{Q}\ensuremath{\gg}{M}_{Z}, {M}_{H}$, which includes the top quark. Invoking the improved Born approximation, we then find the corresponding corrections to various four- and five-point Higgs-boson production and decay processes which involve the ${W}^{+}{W}^{\ensuremath{-}}H$ and $\mathrm{ZZH}$ vertices with one or both of the gauge bosons being connected to light-fermion currents, respectively. This includes ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}f\overline{f}H$ via Higgs radiation, via ${W}^{+}{W}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ fusion (with $f={\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$), and via $\mathrm{ZZ}$ fusion (with $f=e$), as well as $H\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2V\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4f$ (with $V=W, Z$).
Special delivery: how macrophages get the message across.

![Figure][1] Insight from Clare Lloyd Communication between cells is vital for maintenance of immune homeostasis and is also required for rapid and effective immune responses. Nowhere is this balance of activity more important than at mucosal surfaces such as the respiratory tract, where
Approaches to dissemination of experimental programs

The (K-12) education system which the American community has developed over the last century is in some ways the victim of its own success, as is the American system of manufactures. It seems to suffer from similar ambiguities between quantity and quality; in spite of our insistence on local control, we do not offer a sufficient set of high quality alternatives to communities or youngsters with different prospects and learning styles. The industrial mold which stresses the economic efficiency associated with mass production is reinforced, sometimes perversely, by our concern with equality of opportunity for all youngsters; the result is a system which combines features of straight-jacket uniformity with the unwieldiness of local decision-making in some 15,000 separate districts. This paper is concerned with the need to re-educate and re-motivate the present teaching faculties in our K-12 schools if any long term reform is to stick. It describes a particular approach which uses technology in societal context as a focus and teachers' teamwork and willingness to act as learners as essential processes. It takes personal interaction with the TILT staff for teachers to begin the required attitude change, and therefore TILT's impact is slow. We discuss several ways in which the dissemination of TILT's professional development model can be improved.
Greening the Counterinsurgency: The Deceptive Effects of Guatemala's Rural Development Plan of 1970

This article examines the role of USAID's 1970 Rural Development Plan (RDP) for Guatemala in normalizing US military support for the Guatemalan government despite concerns about excessive state violence in the late 1960s. I argue that the RDP presented a depoliticized vision of Guatemala's agrarian problem and generated optimism that this problem could be resolved through market mechanisms and within the existing social order. Rather than promoting prosperity and stability, the RDP framed state terror as a temporary exception, and helped set the stage for genocide in the 1980s. This highlights complicities between discourses of development and political violence.
Highly uniform and reproducible vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy with in situ reflectometry

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) were grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Excellent uniformity of Fabry-Perot cavity wavelength for VCSEL materials of /spl plusmn/0.2% across a 3-in diameter wafer was achieved. This results in excellent uniformity of the lasing wavelength and threshold current of VCSEL devices. Employing pregrowth calibrations on growth rates periodically with an in situ reflectometer, we obtained a run-to-run wavelength reproducibility for 770- and 850-nm VCSELs of /spl plusmn/0.3% over the course of more than a hundred runs.
Weekly patterns of aerosol in the United States

Data from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network of aerosol samplers and NOAA monitoring sites are examined for weekly cycles. At remote and rural sites, fine particle elemental carbon, crustal elements, and coarse particle mass had pronounced (up to 20%) weekly cycles with minima on Sunday or Monday. Fine particle organic carbon and mass had smaller amplitude cycles, also with Sunday or Monday minima. There was no statistically significant weekly cycle in fine particle sulfate despite a 5 to 15% weekly cycle in power plant SO 2 emissions. Although results for nitrate may be more susceptible to sampling artifacts, nitrate also showed a pronounced weekly cycle with an amplitude similar to elemental carbon. The only species found with a weekend maximum was Pb, probably from general aviation on weekends. Aerosol optical properties at NOAA monitoring sites were consistent with the IMPROVE chemical data, with significant weekly cycles in aerosol light absorption but not light scattering. These results support a large role of diesel emissions in elemental carbon aerosol over the entire United States and suggest that a large fraction of the airborne soil dust is anthropogenic. They also suggest that studies of weekly cycles in temperature, cloudiness, precipitation, or other meteorological variables should look for causes more in light-absorbing particles and possible ice nucleation by dust rather than sulfate or total aerosol. There are also implications for personal exposure and epidemiological studies of aerosol health effects.
Enacting a Local Reform in the Age of Reform: A Salary for the Chairman of Middlesex Sessions

This article examines the unsuccessful attempts made from 1833 to 1842 by Middlesex's justices of the peace to obtain a local statute allowing them to pay a salary to their chairman. Instead of securing such an act, they had to settle for a statute enacted by the government, a statute authorising the government to appoint their chairman for judicial proceedings. The article uses the story of Middlesex's attempt to obtain a salary for the chairman to examine: justices' attempts to reform the office of chairman of county Sessions; the limited powers of justices in their county Sessions; and the centralising aspirations of central government. The statute that the government produced in 1844 originated as a public bill. In contrast, the statute that Middlesex had attempted to obtain originated as private bills. The statute enacted by the government contained defects that probably would not have marred a statute enacted under the rules governing private bills. So, this article uses the legislative misadventures of the government's bill to compare the procedures for enactment of public and private bills. The article therefore provides a case study of mid-19th-century legislative procedures governing enactment of local legislation, while arguing that, as of the mid 19th century, parliament had not developed procedures appropriate to both representative government and a centralising central government using public bills for local matters.
Toddlers' Verb Lexicon Diversity and Grammatical Outcomes.

Purpose The goals of this study were to quantify longitudinal expectations for verb lexicon growth and to determine whether verb lexicon measures were better predictors of later grammatical outcome...
Effects of Fertilizers on Hessian Fly Infestation

Wheat fertilizer experiments were conducted in six important agricultural soils of western New York during the period 1956-58. Observations were made on Hessian fly ( Phytophaga destructor (Say) incidence and magnitude of infestation. Significant differences were observed in both number and percentage of infested plants. The amount of infestation was found to increase with increasing levels of nitrogen. No definite relationship was found between Hessian fly infestation and soil reaction or drainage or both. Increases in nitrogen level resulted in similar increases in plant population and infestation. There were indications that the observed increases in infestation with increasing levels of nitrogen were caused by the indirect effect of nitrogen on tillering rather than by the preference of plants grown at high levels of nitrogen by adult female flies for oviposition.
Kaposi's sarcoma and AIDS

Mucocutaneous lesions are often a prominent manifestation of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Patients with this syndrome are susceptible to a number of opportunistic skin infections as well as an aggressive form of Kaposi's sarcoma. The diagnosis, the clinical setting, and the treatment of these diseases are discussed.
Adv. Simulation for Additive Manufacturing: 11/2014 Wkshp. Report for U.S. DOE/EERE/AMO

The overarching question for the workshop was as following: How do we best utilize advanced modeling and high-performance computing (HPC) to address key challenges and opportunities in order to realize the full potential of additive manufacturing; and what are the key challenges of additive manufacturing to which modeling and simulation can contribute solutions, and what will it take to meet these challenges?
Development of Eosinophilic Fasciitis during Infliximab Therapy for Psoriatic Arthritis

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a rare disorder involving chronic inflammation of the fascia and connective tissue surrounding muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. While its pathogenesis is not entirely understood, this disorder is thought to be autoimmune or allergic in nature. We present here a case of a 59-year-old male who developed peripheral eosinophilia and subsequent eosinophilic fasciitis during treatment with infliximab. To our knowledge, eosinophilic fasciitis has not been previously described in patients during treatment with an inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor α.
Littlewood-Paley Theory in One and Two Parameters

In this talk I shall describe some recent results in Littlewood-Paley theory and their applications to the spectral analysis of certain partial differential operators. I will also sketch a couple of the proofs. As experts in this field know, there are two kinds of Littlewood-Paley theory: “discrete” and “continuous.” For the sake of the non-experts, I will only discuss the discrete theory, even though all of the applications I will mention are from the continuous theory. All of the important ideas are in the discrete case; readers who are interested in the technical details of going over into the continuous setting will all they want (and perhaps more) in [W2] and [W3].
Unconventional kesterites: The quest to reduce band tailing in CZTSSe

This review summarizes current understanding of the band tailing problem in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4, which is believed to be an important part of photovoltaic performance losses. Highlights of recent research are presented, which show that despite best efforts at process optimization, a minimum of 30% disorder is present on the Cu–Zn plane in the material, and significant band tailing is universally observed. Substitutions for Cu or Zn have been examined to increase the barrier to antisite formation and/or increase the static dielectric constant to better screen charged defects. These approaches have been met with some success, albeit new potential challenges. Although many elemental substitutions are possible, substitutions involving Cd and Ag have been investigated in most detail and have shown promise. Therefore, these are the focus of the present review. It is hoped that the review provided here will be applicable as new types of substitutional experiments are considered in the future.
The Pennsylvanian gastropod Pseudozygopleura (Pseudozygopleura) from the Appalachian Basin; II

Twenty-five additional taxa to those described by Hoare and Sturgeon (1981) of the gastropod Pseudozygopleura (Pseudozygopleura) are described from the Pennsylvania System of the Appalachian Basin. A key for identification of known Pennsylvanian species from this region is included.