cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spiroperidol binding sites on mouse lymphoid cells. Effects of ascorbic acid and psychotropic drugs.

Abstract Since highly differentiated cells of mammalian immune systems reportedly have binding sites for a variety of neurohumoral agents, we investigated parameters related to possible existence of dopamine receptors on murine lymphoid cells. Using a dopamine antagonist, [ 3 H]spiroperidol, we found evidence for displaceable binding on mouse spleen cells. Total and displaceable (10 μM haloperidol) binding of spiroperidol was markedly enhanced by the absence of ascorbic acid in the incubation medium. Displaceable binding of a dopamine receptor agonist ([ 3 H]ADTN) could not be found on lymphoid cells either in the presence or absence of ascorbic acid. In the absence of ascorbate, displaceable spiroperidol binding to mouse spleen cells revealed partially saturable, but complex, kinetics and we calculated positive cooperatively at low ligand concentrations.
A Numerical Simulation of the Landfall of Tropical Cyclones.

Abstract A GFDL tropical cyclone model was applied to simulate storm landfall. The numerical model is a three-dimensional, primitive equation model and has 11 vertical levels with four in the planetary boundary layer. The horizontal grid spacing is variable with finest resolution being 20 km near the center. This model was used successfully in the past to investigate the development of tropical cyclones over the ocean. In the present experiments, a simple situation is assumed where a mature tropical cyclone drifts onto flat land. In such a case, the landfall can he simulated by changing the position of the coastline in the computational domain rather than by moving the storm. As the coastline moves with a specified speed, the surface boundary conditions are altered at the shore from those for the ocean to those for the land by increasing the surface roughness length and also by suppressing the evaporation. Despite the simplicity and idealization of the experiments, the cyclone's filing rates are quite rea...
Three requirements for justifying an educational neuroscience.

Background. Over the past quarter century, efforts to bridge between research in the neurosciences and research, theory, and practice in education have grown from a mere hope to noteworthy scholarly sophistication. Many dedicated educational researchers have developed the secondary expertise in the necessary neurosciences and related fields to generate both empirical research and theoretical syntheses of noteworthy promise. Nonetheless, thoughtful and critical scholars in education have expressed concern about both the intellectual coherence and ethical dangers of this new area. It is still an open question whether educational neuroscience is for some time yet to remain only a formative study area for adventurous scholars or is already a fully fledged field of educational scholarship. Aims. In this paper, I suggest that to be a worthy field of educational research, educational neuroscience will need to address three issues: intellectual coherence, mutually informing and respected scholarly expertise, and an ethical commitment to the moral implications and obligations shared within educational research generally. I shall set forth some examples of lapses in this regard, focusing primarily on work on reading development, as that is my area of expertise, and make recommendations for due diligence. Arguments. First, intellectual coherence requires both precision in definition of technical terms (so that diverse scholars and professionals may communicate findings and insights consistently across fields), and precision in the logical warrants by which educational implications are drawn from empirical data from the neurosciences. Both needs are facilitated by careful attention to categorical boundary and avoidance of category error. Second, educational neuroscientists require focused and broad expertise in both the neurosciences and educational scholarship on teaching and learning in classrooms (and/or ancillary fields). If history is our guide, neuroscience implications for practice will prove unlikely in practice without expertise on practice. Additionally, respect for the expertise of others in this hybrid and necessarily collaborative enterprise is required. Third, educational neuroscience must take seriously the heightened moral and ethical concerns and commitments of educational professionals generally and educational researchers particularly. This means keeping a vigilant eye towards preserving the integrity of empirical and theoretical findings against rhetorical misuse by educational marketers, policy makers, and polemicists targeting the general public. Conclusions. I conclude that educational neuroscience is more than a hybrid patchwork of individual interests constituting a study area, and is perhaps ready to stand as a legitimate field of educational inquiry. It will not be accepted as such, however, nor should it be, unless the need to demonstrate a capacity for consistent intellectual coherence, scholarly expertise, and ethical commitment is met.
BIB detector development for the far infrared: from Ge to GaAs

Silicon blocked impurity band (BIB) detectors rapidly became the state-of-the-art for photon detection in the near and mid IR range, improving device performance and increasing array size for satellite-based astronomical telescopes. The multiple advantages of the BIB device, in comparison to conventional extrinsic photoconductors, make them even more desirable for far IR detection, where photoconductors suffer from low absorption coefficients and complex transient behavior. This paper summarizes efforts to develop Ge-based and GaAs-based BIB materials and devices. Key challenges include the growth of the high purity blocking layer and the control of growth interfaces. Numerical modeling is presented that illustrates the effect on electric field profiles and device responsivity for variations in net blocking layer doping and extent of interface gradient.
Investigating the Scope of an Advance Organizer for Compiler Concepts.

In this article, the use of an advance organizer as a tool for teaching the functioning and use of a compiler is described. The concrete organizer chosen was used in a controlled experiment. Because previous research brought forth conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of advance organizers, the research reported here concentrated on segregation of concepts. The findings indicate that an explicitly concept-directed organizer is effective in providing a framework for incorporating new information.
Using Transactional Reading Strategies To Support Sense-Making and Discussion in Mathematics Classrooms: An Exploratory Study.

In this study we explore the potential for mathematics instruction of four reading strategies grounded in transactional reading theory. On the basis of the descriptive study of 18 instructional episodes developed in 4 secondary mathematics classes as a result of collaborative action research, we show that encouraging mathematics students to talk, write, draw, and enact texts can provide them with concrete ways to construct and negotiate interpretations of what they read. In addition to helping students better understand the text read, acting on and acting out a text allow students to use that text as a springboard for sense-making and discussion of important mathematical ideas and issues about the nature of mathematics, especially when these reading experiences are supported by compatible classroom norms and values.
Parametric phase coupling in the vibration spectra of rolling element bearings

Abstract In this paper we present a model for the radial vibrations of a ball bearing with geometric imperfections under pure radial load at moderate shaft rate which preserves phase relationships between components of the random vibration spectra. Using this model, it will be shown that the random vibrations produced by such a bearing will exhibit parametric phase coupling. In other words, the phases of pairs of distinct components of the vibration spectra are related by the ratio of their respective frequencies. Implications of this model for the use of higher-order spectral techniques in rolling element bearing vibration monitoring and diagnosis are then discussed. Preliminary results of an empirical investigation of parametric phase coupling in ball bearings are then presented.
Survey of multinational corporate computer-based information systems

Abstract Recent events internationally have shown how swiftly and completely the world business environment can be changed, suggesting the need for research on the information system interface between parent corporations and foreign subsidiaries in multinational corporations. The objective of this study was to develop an analytical framework for evaluating the nature of worldwide information systems, collect data about existing multinational corporate computer-based operations, conduct a comparative analysis of these actual operations, and discover significant variables and interactions. Each of the 101 corporations responding (in excess of 84% of the research space) was subjected to a profile analysis. A multilevel data analysis approach which included conditional probability and regression techniques was utilized to discover significant variables and interactions. An open ended questionnaire was distributed to all U.S. based multinational corporations with additional data collected through structured telephone interviews with the appropriate corporate executives. The main conclusions drawn from this research study are: 1. (1) In U.S. based multinational corporations, foreigh subsidiary computer-based information systems presently exist in a wide range of system structures from independent and autonomous to fully integrated worldwide. The data linkage is the critical process in the development of integrated worldwide systems and rests upon the data base content at the subsidiary level. Technical and communication considerations are secondary in importance. 2. (2) The development of an integrated worldwide system has been dependent upon the size and foreign position of the multinational corporation as well as the type of industrial activity. However, the cost of the information system does not depend upon the degree of integration of the system although it does vary with the industrial activity. 3. (3) The future direction is towards integrated systems. The design of these systems will be based upon distributed, dispersed processing power and segmented data bases, rather than centralized concepts.
Is a Short-Interval Postradiation Mammogram Necessary After Conservative Surgery and Radiation in Breast Cancer?

Purpose To examine, in a retrospective study, whether the initial posttreatment mammogram offers any benefit to patients. Methods and Materials Patients were selected who had radiation after breast-conservation therapy from 1995 through 2005 and had follow-up mammography at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) within 1 year of completing radiotherapy. Results of the initial follow-up mammogram were analyzed to determine the yield of this initial mammogram. Results Between 1995 and 2005, 408 patients treated with breast-conserving therapy and radiation had follow-up mammograms at UCLA within 1 year of completion of radiation. Median age at radiation completion was 56.9 years. Median interval between radiation and the initial mammogram was 3.1 months. Ten patients were found to have suspicious findings on the initial postradiation mammogram, prompting biopsy, but only 2 were found to have recurrent cancer. None of those lesions were palpable. In both cases the recurrences were ductal carcinoma in situ . Thus, the yield of the initial postoperative mammogram as compared with physical examination findings is estimated at 0.49 recurrences detected per 100 mammograms performed (95% confidence interval 0.059–1.759). Conclusions The yield of the initial postradiation mammography at UCLA seems to be low, and only noninvasive carcinomas were found. Our data support the rationale to avoid the initial short-interval postradiation mammography and evaluate patients at 12 months.
Spatio-temporal analysis of trends in seasonal vegetation productivity across Uttarakhand, Indian Himalayas, 2000–2014

Abstract Himalayan mountain system in the Indian sub-continent are among the most ecologically sensitive environments and are also a repository of biodiversity, water and ecosystem services. Over the last two decades, land transformation related to exploitative land uses is among the main drivers of changing vegetation cover and productivity in western Himalayas. In a region where field based research is challenging due to heterogenous relief and high altitude, quantifying changes in vegetation photosynthetic activity using remote sensing can provide essential information regarding trends in vegetation cover and its linkages with anthropogenic impacts. We conducted seasonal trend analysis (STA) on MODIS NDVI time-series data (2000–2014) over Uttarakhand Himalayas and examined spatio-temporal patterns in vegetation trends and its association with altitudinal gradient and land use land cover (LULC) dynamics. In STA the first step determines the annual mean and seasonal NDVI patterns and the second step analyzes the non-parametric trend in magnitude and timing of the annual mean and seasonal NDVI cycle. To provide insights on the role of changing land use to detected changes in vegetation trend, we linked MODIS derived trends to land transformation processes using multi-temporal high spatial resolution imagery in Google Earth (GE). In total 3286.82 km 2 (6.9% vegetated area of Uttarakhand) showed significant trend ( p 1600 m were characterized by negative trend in mean annual greenness. Majority of intensively cultivated irrigated croplands in the Himalayan foothills as well as areas around growing urban centers showed widespread browning, which was contrastingly different from rainfed cultivation areas that showed dominant greening trend. Browning trend was observed to be consistent with increasing altitude, particularly in closed needle leaf forests and alpine shrublands, except areas where human impacts has led to more mixed patterns. Trends in the annual seasonal timing of NDVI indicated an earlier green-up for most parts of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. These results highlight fine scale spatial variations in seasonal vegetation trends and are in partial agreement with previous studies that report only increasing brownness detected at broader scale using much coarser spatial resolution time-series.
Parallel MoM Using Higher-Order Basis Functions and PLAPACK In-Core and Out-of-Core Solvers for Challenging EM Simulations

Typically, the problem size that can be solved by the Method of Moments (MoM) is limited by the amount of RAM installed in the computer. To reduce the number of unknowns for MoM, higher-order polynomial functions have been introduced as the basis functions. To extend the capability of the MoM code, this paper presents a new development: the use of a new parallel out-of-core solver called PLAPACK. The PLAPACK library package offers benefits that are not available in the more commonly used ScaLAPACK libraries. Numerical results on a typical computer platform for two different challenging electromagnetic problems show that the PLAPACK out-of-core solver introduced here is a very efficient way to deal with large matrix equations. The implementation of these advancements creates a powerful tool for the efficient computational electromagnetic solution of large and complex real-world problems.
A simple relativistic-string description of meson and baryon flavor formation in e+e− annihilations

Abstract We have developed a simple ansatz, a spin-off of the Lund relativistic string model, which is closely related to the soft QCD concepts of area law behavior and longitudinal phasespace. Thus far, with only 5 major parameters, we find no significant deviations from data over a broad range of specific flavored mesons and spin 1 2 baryons, thought there are indications of possibly significant deviations in the spin 3 2 baryons. The relationship with soft QCD concepts and the broad agreement with data utilizing a small number of parameters supports the idea of the use of the ansatz as a “first order” description of the hadronization process.
Independent mechanisms for long-term depression of AMPA and NMDA responses

While the mechanisms responsible for LTP and LTD of excitatory synaptic responses mediated by AMPA receptors (AMPARs) have been extensively characterized, much less is known about the regulation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) by synaptic activity. In hippocampal CA1 cells, prolonged low frequency afferent stimulation depresses synaptic responses mediated by either NMDARs or AMPARs. However, this apparently similar LTD is accompanied by a change in the coefficient of variation (CV) of only the AMPAR-mediated synaptic responses; the CV of the NMDAR-mediated synaptic responses is unaffected. Moreover, by varying the pattern of synaptic stimulation, the responses mediated by one receptor subtype can be modified without affecting the responses mediated by the other. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying activity-dependent plasticity of NMDAR-mediated synaptic responses are different from those responsible for plasticity of AMPAR-mediated synaptic responses.
A statistical method for determining the proportions of gray matter, white matter, and CSF using computed tomography

The brain may be considered as a collection of volume elements (voxels) containing unknown proportions of gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If one assumes that (1) the attenuation coefficients for voxels with the same proportions of GM, WM, and CSF follow a Gaussian distribution whose mean is a weighted average of the mean attenuation coefficients of pure GM, WM, and CSF and (2) the voxel-to-voxel variation in proportions follows a Dirichlet probability distribution, then the overall proportions of GM, WM, and CSF can be calculated by optimizing the parameters of a compound Dirichlet-Gaussian distribution. This approach permits a quantitative analysis of the compartmental composition of the brain and may be useful in the evaluation of patients with cerebral edema, hydrocephalus, and leukoence-phalopathy.
Pressure effects on the ensemble dynamics of ubiquitin inspected with molecular dynamics simulations and isotropic reorientational eigenmode dynamics.

According to NMR chemical shift data, the ensemble of ubiquitin is a mixture of “open” and “closed” conformations at rapid equilibrium. Pressure perturbations provide the means to study the transition between the two conformers by imposing an additional constraint on the system's partial molar volume. Here we use nanosecond-timescale molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the network of correlated motions accessible to the conformers at low- and high-pressure conditions. Using the isotropic reorientational eigenmode dynamics formalism to analyze our simulation trajectories, we reproduce NMR relaxation data without fitting any parameters of our model. Comparative analysis of our results suggests that the two conformations behave very differently. The dynamics of the “closed” conformation are almost unaffected by pressure and are dominated by large-amplitude correlated motions of residues 23–34 in the extended α-helix. The “open” conformation under conditions of normal pressure displays increased mobility, focused on the loop residues 17–20, 46–55, and 58–59 at the bottom of the core of the structure, as well as the C-terminal residues 69–76, that directly participate in key protein-protein interactions. For the same conformation, a pressure increase induces a loss of separability between molecular tumbling and internal dynamics, while motions between different backbone sites become uncorrelated.
Extraskeletal osteogenic sarcoma after treatment for wilms' tumor

A large proportion of children with Wilms' tumor will become long-term disease-free survivors. A small number of these children are at risk of developing second malignant neoplasms. There have been no previous reports of osteogenic sarcoma of the chest wall following treatment of Wilms' tumor. Our patient was age seven years when he received surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy for Wilms' tumor, eight years when he received radiation and chemotherapy for pulmonary metastases of Wilms' tumor, and 13 years when he developed osteogenic sarcoma of the chest wall.
Circulating Mononuclear Cells in the Obese Are in a Proinflammatory State

Background— In view of the increase in plasma concentrations of proinflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in obesity, we investigated whether peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from obese subjects are in a proinflammatory state. Methods and Results— MNC were prepared from fasting blood samples of obese (n=16; body mass index [BMI]=37.7±5.0 kg/m2) and normal-weight control (n=16; BMI=23.8±1.9 kg/m2) subjects. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) binding to DNA in nuclear extracts was elevated (P<0.05) and the inhibitor of NFκB-β (IκB-β) was significantly lower (P<0.001) in the obese group. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction revealed elevated levels of migration inhibitor factor (MIF), IL-6, TNF-α, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA expression in the obese subjects (P<0.05). Plasma concentrations of MIF, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-9, and CRP were also significantly higher. Plasma glucose, insulin, and free fatty acids (FFAs) were mea...
Pathways from Acculturation Stress to Substance Use Among Latino Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the link between acculturation stress and substance use among Latino adolescents. In-home interviews were completed with the participants at four time-points between 2005 and 2007. Path analysis was completed using longitudinal data from 286 Latino adolescents living in North Carolina and Arizona (65% foreign-born). Results indicate that acculturation stress influences family and friend relationships, which in turn affect adolescent mental health problems, and finally, substance use. Key mediators in the pathway from acculturation stress to substance use were parent-adolescent conflict, internalizing, and externalizing problems. Implications for practice and research have been discussed here.
Compartment syndrome caused by a traumatized vascular hamartoma

A case report is presented of a traumatized vascular hamartoma producing a forearm flexor compartment syndrome; such a case has not been reported previously. The role of minor trauma in this case was important. There is a need for a high degree of suspicion in order to make an early, accurate diagnosis. Delayed surgical decompression and resection of the pathologic muscle resulted in a dramatic improvement in sensibility and digital mobility.
The 13 Å Structure of a Chaperonin GroEL–Protein Substrate Complex by Cryo-electron Microscopy

The 13 angstroms resolution structures of GroEL bound to a single monomer of the protein substrate glutamine synthetase (GS(m)), as well as that of unliganded GroEL have been determined from a heterogeneous image population using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) coupled with single-particle image classification and reconstruction techniques. We combined structural data from cryo-EM maps and dynamic modeling, taking advantage of the known X-ray crystallographic structure and normal mode flexible fitting (NMFF) analysis, to describe the changes that occur in GroEL structure induced by GS(m) binding. The NMFF analysis reveals that the molecular movements induced by GS(m) binding propagate throughout the GroEL structure. The modeled molecular motions show that some domains undergo en bloc movements, while others show more complex independent internal movements. Interestingly, the substrate-bound apical domains of both the cis (GS(m)-bound ring) and trans (the opposite substrate-free ring) show counterclockwise rotations, in the same direction (though not as dramatic) as those documented for the ATP-GroEL-induced structure changes. The structural changes from the allosteric substrate protein-induced negative cooperativity between the GroEL rings involves upward concerted movements of both cis and trans equatorial domains toward the GS(m)-bound ring, while the inter-ring distances between the heptamer contact residues are maintained. Furthermore, the NMFF analysis identifies the secondary structural elements that are involved in the observed approximately 5 angstroms reduction in the diameter of the cavity opening in the unbound trans ring. Understanding the molecular basis of these substrate protein-induced structural changes across the heptamer rings provides insight into the origins of the allosteric negative cooperative effects that are transmitted over long distances (approximately 140 angstroms).
Synthetic popularity reflects chemical reactivity

Large and diverse databases of chemical reactions contain statistically significant information about the propensities of molecules to undergo specific chemical transformations. It is shown that this information can be quantified to reflect reaction thermodynamics/kinetics and can be used to construct primitive (yet accurate) reactivity indices from the counts of reported reactions involving molecules/molecular positions of interest. These indices correlate with frontier orbital (FO) populations or Hammett σ and ρ parameters for a range of reactions involving aromatic substrates. These findings suggest that large chemical databases are not only a historical repository of chemical knowledge but also tools with which one can make useful chemical predictions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Loose tweets: an analysis of privacy leaks on twitter

Twitter has become one of the most popular microblogging sites for people to broadcast (or "tweet") their thoughts to the world in 140 characters or less. Since these messages are available for public consumption, one may expect these tweets not to contain private or incriminating information. Nevertheless we observe a large number of users who unwittingly post sensitive information about themselves and other people for whom there may be negative consequences. While some awareness exists of such privacy issues on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, there has been no quantitative, scientific study addressing this problem.In this paper we make three major contributions. First, we characterize the nature of privacy leaks on Twitter to gain an understanding of what types of private information people are revealing on it. We specifically analyze three types of leaks: divulging vacation plans, tweeting under the influence of alcohol, and revealing medical conditions. Second, using this characterization we build automatic classifiers to detect incriminating tweets for these three topics in real time in order to demonstrate the real threat posed to users by, e.g., burglars and law enforcement. Third, we characterize who leaks information and how. We study both self- incriminating primary leaks and secondary leaks that reveal sensitive information about others, as well as the prevalence of leaks in status updates and conversation tweets. We also conduct a cross-cultural study to investigate the prevalence of leaks in tweets originating from the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore. Finally, we discuss how our classification system can be used as a defense mechanism to alert users of potential privacy leaks.
A Small Molecule Screen in Stem-Cell-Derived Motor Neurons Identifies a Kinase Inhibitor as a Candidate Therapeutic for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease, characterized by motor neuron (MN) death, for which there are no truly effective treatments. Here, we describe a new small molecule survival screen carried out using MNs from both wild-type and mutant SOD1 mouse embryonic stem cells. Among the hits we found, kenpaullone had a particularly impressive ability to prolong the healthy survival of both types of MNs that can be attributed to its dual inhibition of GSK-3 and HGK kinases. Furthermore, kenpaullone also strongly improved the survival of human MNs derived from ALS-patient-induced pluripotent stem cells and was more active than either of two compounds, olesoxime and dexpramipexole, that recently failed in ALS clinical trials. Our studies demonstrate the value of a stem cell approach to drug discovery and point to a new paradigm for identification and preclinical testing of future ALS therapeutics.
Identification of sorbitol in mammalian nerve.

Abstract Hers (1960) has shown that fructose in the seminal vesicles is formed from glucose via sorbitol. Van Heyningen (1959) , Kuck (1961) and Kinoshita et al. (1963) have reported evidence that the same pathway is present in the lens. The finding of relatively high levels of free fructose in mammalian nerve (Stewart and Passonneau, 1964) raised the question whether the “sorbitol pathway” also operates in nerve. In this paper we report the identification and measurement of sorbitol in mammalian nerve.
Partial lesions of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system in rat brain: biochemical characterization

Abstract Various doses of 6-hydroxydopamine injected into the rat substantia nigra produced partial, dose-dependent lesions of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal tract. The resulting reduction in striatal dopamine concentrations and tyrosine hydroxylase activities tended to be proportional, allowing these measurements to serve as indices for lesion severity in any particular animal. Lesions destroying two-thirds or more of the nigrostriatal neurons accelerated dopamine's synthesis in, and release from, surviving neurons, as indicated by increased striatal levels of the dopamine metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid. Formation of these metabolites was also enhanced in dendrites of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Supersensitivity of striatal postsynaptic receptors, as judged by induction of rotational behavior after apomorphine or l -DOPA administration, occurred when 90% or more of the nigrostriatal neurons had been destroyed. In contrast, rotational behavior could be induced by amphetamine in animals with only 50% of these neurons destroyed.
Workers' perceptions about worksite policies and environments and their association with leisure-time physical activity.

Abstract Purpose To estimate the employed population's exposure to perceived worksite policies and environments hypothesized to promote physical activity and to determine their relationship to leisure-time physical activity. Design Cross-sectional, random-digit-dial telephone survey. Setting Community. Subjects Employed adults (n = 987) in six North Carolina counties. Measures Outcomes included any leisure-time physical activity, recommended physical activity, and work-break physical activity. Perceived worksite policies and environments included on-site fitness facility at work, safe place to walk outside work, paid time for activity, subsidized health-club membership, and flexible work schedule. Analysis Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study population and exposure to perceived worksite policies and environments. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate relationships between perceived worksite policies and environments and physical activity, controlling for age, race, se...
Distribution, abundance and carbon isotopic composition of gaseous hydrocarbons in Big-Soda Lake, Nevada-an Alkaline, Meromictic Lake

The study of the distribution and isotopic composition of low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases at the Big Soda Lake, Nevada, has shown that while neither ethylene nor propylene were found in the lake, ethane, propane, isobutane and n-butane concentrations all increased with water column depth. It is concluded that methane has a biogenic origin in both the sediments and the anoxic water column, and that C2-C4 alkanes have biogenic origins in the monimolimnion water and shallow sediments. The changes observed in delta C-13/CH4/ and CH4/(C2H6 + C3H8) with depth in the water column and sedimeents are probably due to bacterial processes, which may include anaerobic methane oxidation and different rates of methanogenesis, and C2-to-C4 alkane production by microorganisms.
A remark on the compactness for the Cahn–Hilliard functional

In this note we prove compactness for the Cahn-Hilliard functional without assuming coercivity of the multi-well potential.
Effects of vitamin A deficiency on thyroid function studied with radioactive iodine.

There have been a number of investigations bearing on the effects of vitamin A deficiency on the thyroid gland of the rat following the original observation of McCarrison (1914). This author (1931) noted hypertrophy of the gland and abnormal distension of the follicles in vitamin A deficiency. Spence (1932) reported similar results. Mitzkewi’tsch (1934) and Uotila (1938)found that in avitaminosis A the follicles of the gland were filled with colloid and that the epithelial cells were flattened. This was interpreted as indicative of hypofunction. De Ruyter(1934) found that the thyroid became atrophied with epithelial degeneration in severe avitaminosis A. Coplan and Sampson (1935) reported that vitamin A deficiency produced definite hypertrophy of the thyroid gland in the female rat but consistent atrophy in the male. Opposed to these findings is the work of Drennan, Malcolm and Cox (1931), Sampson and Korenchevsky (1932), Sure (1938), and Remington, Harris and Smith (1943).
A radar altitude and line of sight attachment

This paper describes a method of overcoming much of the computational expense of finding radar altitude and determining lines of sight in flight simulations over databases built from polygons. Methods are described for quantizing polygonal databases and for searching through them quickly. Various tuning parameters are explained and run-time performance figures are offered.
New Horizons Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission: design and simulation of the Pluto-Charon encounter

Abstract The primary goal of the New Horizons Pluto–Kuiper Belt mission is to explore Pluto by 2020, before Pluto's atmosphere collapses as predicted by scientists, and then explore the Kuiper Belt objects in an extended mission. The baseline mission plans to launch in January 2006, using a Jupiter gravity assist trajectory to reach Pluto. The New Horizons spacecraft will arrive at Pluto as early as 2015, depending on the launch vehicle. For such a mission, whose exploration takes place during a brief flyby period after a long cruise, a thorough planning of the encounter is especially critical to the realization of optimal science observations. A detailed Pluto encounter trajectory design that achieves both solar occultation and Earth occultation by both Pluto and Charon is described in this paper, along with discussions of the design rationale and considerations. Science observations and measurements planned for the Pluto–Charon encounter are simulated and analyzed, and a comprehensive Pluto–Charon encounter process filled with detailed science observation simulations is demonstrated in a 3-D animation.
Hybrid damping models using the Golla-Hughes-McTavish method with internally balanced model reduction and output feedback

Viscoelastic materials (VEMs) are used to increase passive damping in structures. The damping capabilities of the VEM can be enhanced by attaching a constraining layer to the VEM. If this constraining layer is active, the treatment is called active constrained layer damping (ACLD). In the last few years, ACLD has proven to be superior in vibration control to active or passive damping. The active element allows for more effective vibration suppression than purely passive constrained layer damping. On the other hand, the VEM provides a fail-safe in case of breakdown of the active element that is not present for purely active control. It has been shown that the control effort needed to damp vibration using ACLD can be significantly higher than purely active control. In order to combine the inherent damping of passive control with the effectiveness of the active element, different variations of active, passive and hybrid damping are explored. Some of the variations included in this paper are passive constrained layer damping (PCLD) separate from the active element, but on the same side of beam and PCLD separate from the active element on the opposite side of the beam. The discretized system equations are obtained using the assumed modes method and Lagrange's equation. The damping is modeled using the Golla-Hughes-McTavish (GHM) method. This method adds `dissipation coordinates' to the structure in order to account for the damping present. These additional modes are eliminated using a reduction method, rendering the method more practical. A linear quadratic regulator and output feedback are used to actively control vibration.
An analysis of sequencing surgeries with durations that follow the lognormal, gamma, or normal distribution

The smallest-variance-first-rule (SV) is generally accepted as the optimal policy for sequencing two surgeries, although it has been proven formally only for several restricted cases. We extend prior work, studying three distributions as models of surgery duration (the lognormal, gamma, and normal) and including overtime in a total-cost objective function comprising surgeon-and patient-waiting-, operating-room-idle-, and staff overtimes. We specify expected waiting and idle time as functions of the parameters of surgery duration to identify the best rule to sequence two surgeries. We compare the relative values of expected waiting and idle times numerically with that of expected overtime. Results recommend that the SV rule be used to minimize total expected cost of waiting, idle and overtime. We find that gamma and normal distributions with the same mean and variance as the lognormal give nearly the same expected waiting and idle times, observing that the lognormal in combination with either the gamma or ...
Microelectrode measurements of photochemical oxygen depletion in multicell tumor spheroids during photodynamic therapy

ABSTRACTWe have previously reported results of experiments in which EMT6/Ro spheroids were subjected to Photofrin®-PDT consisting of a fixed incident fluence (60 J-cm2) delivered at 200, 50, and 25 mW-cm2. Surviving fractions from treated spheroids decreased as the incidentfluence rate was lowered over this range. We have interpreted these data using a model whereinthe cells comprising the surviving fractions are assumed to originate from within a therapy-induced anoxic volume resulting from Type-il photochemistry. In this paper, we demonstratedirect measurements of the phenomenon in individual photosensitized EMT6 spheroids. Steady-state measurements of O2 gradients in and around metabolizing spheroids allow determination ofthe O2 diffusion constant and the rate of metabolic O2 consumption within a spheroid. Time-dependent measurements obtained at a single spatial location during laser irradiation are fit tonumerical solutions of a pair of time-dependent diffusion with consumption equations. Fits allowa determination of the rate of PDT-induced O2 consumption. Based on these fits, it is possibleto calculate the spatial and temporal distributions of oxygen within a spheroid undergoing PDT.2. INTRODUCTIONFor several years, we and our collaborators have been seeking strategies to improvephotodynamic therapy (PDT) through modifications in the irradiation protocol. In particular, wehave explored the effects of irradiation fluence rate and of various fractionated irradiationschemes. Two transplantable rodent tumors, the R3230AC mammary carcinoma in the femaleFischer rat and the human mesothelioma xenograft in the nude mouse, show significantlydelayed post-treatment regrowth when a fixed dose of PDT is administered at a relativelyreduced incident fluence rate"2. Our interpretation of these data has been developed in terms ofa model of therapy-induced oxygen depletion. Model calculations show that photochemicaloxygen consumption during PDT can create regions of transient anoxia within which tumor cellswould be spared from singlet oxygen mediated damage. This can occur in tissue which, prior tothe onset of irradiation, was sufficiently well oxygenated to support formation of singlet oxygen.A summary of the experimental results and of the essential features of the theoretical model waspresented as part of these proceedings in 1992. In that report, we stated that, if our basicassumptions regarding oxygen consumption and diffusion were valid, it should be possible toreproduce a fluence-rate-dependent response to PDT in multicell tumor spheroids. Since then,we have in fact demonstrated that surviving fractions from EMT6 spheroids treated with
Disjoint Eager Execution: what it is / what it is not

Disjoint Eager Execution (DEE) has been cited and described many times since its introduction in 1992, often incorrectly. This paper clarifies what DEE is and how it operates, as well as pointing out common DEE misconceptions.
Factors Associated with Seasonality of Milk Production in New York State

Abstract The effect of a base-excess seasonal pricing plan on pattern of production and the role played by various factors related to management and to breeding practices on seasonality of production were investigated. A mail survey of a randomly selected group of farmers in New York State provided the data; 1061 farmers responded to the questionnaire. Seasonality coefficient (difference between spring and fall production as a proportion of fall production) was used as a measure of seasonal production pattern. Three major conclusions were: 1) the use of a base-excess plan in addition to the Louisville plan reduced seasonality when compared with the Louisville plan alone; 2) seasonality was associated with region, type of housing, and herd production; and 3) farmers’ perceptions that spring milk production is more profitable than production in other seasons was an important cause of seasonality.
13‑Year experience in external fixation of the pelvis: complications, reduction and removal

To evaluate the complications associated with anterior pelvic external fixation and the success of this device in maintaining reduction when used in conjunction with sacroiliac screws. Through a retrospective clinical study at an academic Level I Trauma Center, 129 patients fit the criteria for inclusion with a mean duration of anterior pelvic external fixation of 62 days and mean follow-up of 360 days. Charts were reviewed for complications postoperatively. The symphysis diastasis, vertical displacement and posterior displacement of each hemipelvis were quantified from pelvic radiographs. Of the 129 patients receiving anterior pelvic external fixation, 14 (10.9 %) presented to an emergency department for problems with their anterior pelvic external fixation. Of these 14 patients, 7 (5.4 %) required readmission, all for infectious concerns necessitating IV antibiotics. 6 (4.7 %) required formal operative debridement and device removal. 13 patients (10.1 %) had superficial pin site infections successfully treated with oral antibiotics. Reduction was maintained (rated as fair, good or excellent) in all patients with radiographic follow-up (n = 74, average radiographic follow-up of 216 days) following removal of their anterior pelvic external fixation. 38 patients (30.4 %) had their anterior pelvic external fixation removed in clinic, while 87 (69.6 %) had formal removal in the operating room. While previous data suggest high complication rates in definitive anterior pelvic external fixation, we present the largest cohort of patients receiving anterior pelvic external fixation and sacroiliac screws, demonstrating a low complication rate while maintaining reduction of the pelvic ring. In addition, we found that these devices could be reliably removed in a clinic setting.
Why do A.T base pairs inhibit Z-DNA formation?

We have carried out free energy perturbation calculations on DNA double-stranded hexanucleotides. The sequence d(CGCGCG)2 has been "mutated" into d(CGTGCG).d(CGCACG) with the oligonucleotide in the A, B, and Z structural forms, both in vacuo and in aqueous solution. In addition, model free energy calculations have been carried out in which the electrostatic charges of the H-bonding groups of the bases in the major and minor grooves of the DNA are reduced to zero as a way of assessing the relative solvation effects of these groups in the different structural forms of DNA. Finally, energy component analyses have been carried out to assess the relative roles of different intranucleotide interactions on the B----Z equilibrium as a function of base sequence. In vacuo, the free energy for changing a G.C to an A.T base pair is largest in the Z conformation; in the A and B conformations, the free energy cost is approximately 2 kcal/mol lower (1 cal = 4.184 J). The results are similar when the simulations are run in explicit solvent: the change costs 3 kcal/mol more in the Z conformation than in the B form. These results are consistent with experimental data, where it is clear that A.T sequences are significantly more "Z-phobic" than G.C sequences. The calculations indicate that both intranucleotide and solvation interactions contribute to this Z-phobicity.
An Update on Epistemic Modals

Epistemic modals are a prominent topic in the literature on natural language semantics, with wide-ranging implications for issues in philosophy of language and philosophical logic. Considerations about the role that epistemic might and must play in discourse and reasoning have led to the development of several important alternatives to classical possible worlds semantics for natural language modal expressions. This is an opinionated overview of what I take to be some of the most exciting issues and developments in the eld.
LOOMing possibilities: Learning APA style the self-paced way

The author created a month-long APA course as a Local Open Online Module because there was demand for such a course among faculty and students across the college and so that all faculty and students could have access to it. This LOOM is fully customizable, can be used in full or in part, and resources can be added to the LOOM or downloaded. The module includes a pre and post-test assessment. In this article, the author shares the process to create the LOOM and various faculty/student uses of the LOOM. The author also discusses the ways in which this LOOM, the first such module at Stockton, might lead to creating and sharing other teaching tools/learning modules -- and the implications of doing so for writing instruction.
Copper(2+) binding to the surface residue cysteine 111 of His46Arg human copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, a familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutant.

Mutations in copper−zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) cause 25% of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) cases. This paper examines one such mutant, H46R, which has no superoxide dismutase activity yet presumably retains the gain-of-function activity that leads to disease. We demonstrate that Cu2+ does not bind to the copper-specific catalytic site of H46R CuZnSOD and that Cu2+ competes with other metals for the zinc binding site. Most importantly, Cu2+ was found to bind strongly to a surface residue near the dimer interface of H46R CuZnSOD. Cysteine was identified as the new binding site on the basis of multiple criteria including UV−vis spectroscopy, RR spectroscopy, and chemical derivatization. Cysteine 111 was pinpointed as the position of the reactive ligand by tryptic digestion of the modified protein and by mutational analysis. This solvent-exposed residue may play a role in the toxicity of this and other FALS CuZnSOD mutations. Furthermore, we propose that the two cysteine 111 residues, ...