cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression and characterization of recombinant interferon gamma (IFN-γ) from the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) and its effect on Mycobacterium leprae-infected macrophages

Abstract Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) manifest the full histopathological spectrum of leprosy, and are hosts of choice for in vivo propagation of Mycobacterium leprae. Though potentially useful as a model of leprosy pathogenesis, few armadillo-specific reagents exist. We have identified a region of high homology to the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) of other mammals within the recently published armadillo whole genomic sequence. cDNA was made from ConA-stimulated armadillo peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), amplified, and cloned into a pET expression vector for transformation and over-expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein (rDnIFN-γ) was characterized by western blot and its biological function confirmed with bioassays including intracellular killing of Toxoplasma gondii and induction of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase activity. In using rIFN-γ to activate macrophages from mice, humans or armadillos, similar to humans, rIFN-γ-activated armadillo MΦ did not produce nitrite and or inhibit the viability of M. leprae in vitro. Conversely, murine rIFN-γ-activated mouse MΦ produced high levels of nitrite and killed intracellular M. leprae in vitro. These data indicate that the response of armadillo MΦ to rDnIFN-γ is similar to that which occurs in humans, and demonstrates a potentially important value of the armadillo as a model in leprosy research.
A MICROSCOPIC BTOASSAY FOR MELATONIN1

A microscopic bioassay procedure for the determination of melatonin is described, and factors influencing the test are discussed. The techniques employed can be used to assay for other agents which produce lightening of frog skin as well as for compounds that cause darkening.
Late Endocardial Pacing Lead Body Migration Compromising Fontan Physiology

Migration of intracardiac transvenous pacing leads may occur. There is a known risk of intrapul- monary ventricular pacing lead migration in patients with endocardial lead systems. In the current report we present the late intrapulmonary migration of an endocardial atrial pacing lead body. The patient had undergone antitachycardia pacemaker placement to control recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias following the Fontan procedure. Although the lead electrode remained in place and continued to pace, the lead body migrated, causing severe obstruction to blood flow. This resulted in severe cardiac decompensation, which was ultimately ameliorated by lead repositioning.
Changes in Soybean Lipids During Tempeh Fermentationa,b

SUMMARY Changes in the lipids of soybeans brought about by Rhizopus orysae during the production of tempeh were studied. The mold possesses strong lipase activity and caused the hydrolysis of over one-third of the neutral fat of the soybean during the three-day fermentation. The fatty acid composition of soybean tempeh was compared with that of cooked soybeans by vapor-phase chromatography of the methylesters. The neutral fat was composed of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids, with linoleic acid predominating. These acids were liberated during fermentation in roughly the same proportions found in soybeans after heating 90 min at 100°C. During the most active mold growth, proportionately higher levels of palmitic acid were found, and the level of linoleic acid was somewhat lower. Except for the depletion of some 40% of the linolenic acid in the later stages of the fermentation, there apparently was no preferential utilization of any fatty acid.
Early-Life Sodium Exposure Unmasks Susceptibility to Stroke in Hyperlipidemic, Hypertensive Heterozygous Tg25 Rats Transgenic for Human Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein

Background— Early-life risk factor exposure increases aortic atherosclerosis and blood pressure in humans and animal models; however, limited insight has been gained as to end-organ complications. Methods and Results— We investigated the effects of early-life Na exposure (0.23% versus 0.4% NaCl regular rat chow) on vascular disease outcomes using the inbred, transgenic [hCETP]25 Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rat model of male-predominant coronary atherosclerosis, Tg25. Rather than the expected increase in coronary heart disease, fetal 0.4% Na exposure (≤2 g of Na per 2-kcal/d diet) induced adult-onset stroke in both sexes (ANOVA P<0.0001), with earlier stroke onset in Tg25 females. Analysis of later onset of 0.4% Na exposure resulted in decreased stroke risk and later stroke onset despite longer 0.4% Na exposure durations, which indicates increasing risk with earlier onset of 0.4% Na exposure. Histological analysis of stroke-positive rat brains revealed cerebral cortical hemorrhagic infarctions, microh...
The effects of prenatal alcohol use on the growth of children at three years of age.

In this prospective study of substance use during pregnancy, women were interviewed in their 4th and 7th prenatal months, and women and children were assessed at 24 hr, 8, 18, and 36 months post-partum. Data are presented on the outcome of 519 children at age 3. At 3 years, children who were exposed prenatally to alcohol were smaller in weight, length, and head circumference. They also had an increased number of minor physical anomalies. These effects were found even after controlling for nutritional and environmental factors. The persistence of growth effects at age 3 suggests that children exposed to alcohol prenatally may have a diminished capacity for growth.
HEDGEHOG-GLI signaling inhibition suppresses tumor growth in squamous lung cancer

Purpose: Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) currently lacks effective targeted therapies. Previous studies reported overexpression of Hedgehog (HH)–GLI signaling components in LSCC. However, they addressed neither the tumor heterogeneity nor the requirement for HH–GLI signaling. Here, we investigated the role of HH–GLI signaling in LSCC, and studied the therapeutic potential of HH–GLI suppression. Experimental Design: Gene expression datasets of two independent LSCC patient cohorts were analyzed to study the activation of HH–GLI signaling. Four human LSCC cell lines were examined for HH–GLI signaling components. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assayed in these cells after blocking the HH–GLI pathway by lentiviral-shRNA knockdown or small-molecule inhibitors. Xenografts in immunodeficient mice were used to determine the in vivo efficacy of GLI inhibitor GANT61. Results: In both cohorts, activation of HH–GLI signaling was significantly associated with the classical subtype of LSCC. In cell lines, genetic knockdown of Smoothened (SMO) produced minor effects on cell survival, whereas GLI2 knockdown significantly reduced proliferation and induced extensive apoptosis. Consistently, the SMO inhibitor GDC-0449 resulted in limited cytotoxicity in LSCC cells, whereas the GLI inhibitor GANT61 was very effective. Importantly, GANT61 demonstrated specific in vivo antitumor activity in xenograft models of GLI + cell lines. Conclusion: Our studies demonstrate an important role for GLI2 in LSCC, and suggest GLI inhibition as a novel and potent strategy to treat a subset of patients with LSCC. Clin Cancer Res; 20(6); 1566–75. ©2014 AACR .
Postinfarction Cardiac Rupture: Surgical Success and Review of the Literature

Cardiac rupture following myocardial infarction has been reported as the cause of 4 to 24% of all infarction deaths. The rupture may occur from a few hours to several days after the myocardial infarction and is not a true "blowout" but rather a necrotic hemorrhagic area in the center of the infarction that extravasates blood and leads to pericardial tamponade. The most common findings when rupture occurs are renewed chest pain, bradycardia, and shock. Two patients with postinfarction myocardial rupture who were operated on successfully are reported. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, more of these patients would survive long enough to undergo operation. With cardiopulmonary bypass the repair of these ruptures is not difficult.
Magnetic and petrologic characterization of synthetic Martian basalts and implications for the surface magnetization of Mars

[1] A suite of synthetic Martian basalts is generated with the objective of providing fundamental material properties data for use in modeling and interpretation of mission data. We systematically evaluate the effects of major element composition, oxygen fugacity (fO2), and cooling rate on phase chemistry and magnetic mineralogy, grain size, and intensity of remanent magnetization. The range of experimental compositions and fO2 are chosen to bracket the range expected in the Martian crust; our results should therefore span the range of possible mineralogies, textures, and magnetic properties in rapidly cooled Mars crustal materials. Two starting compositions are used for the sample synthesis: (1) an Fe-rich, Al-poor composition patterned after SNC basaltic meteorites and (2) a composition based on thermal emission spectrometer (TES) data with a much lower Fe/Al ratio. The resulting magnetic phase in samples generated at the quartz-fayalite-magnetite (QFM) buffer is a spinel-structured oxide with varying amounts of Cr, Ti, Mg, and Al. Compositional differences depend on bulk composition, cooling rate, differences in crystallization sequence, and the kinetics of silicate mineral nucleation and growth. Oxide abundance and magnetic intensity are most strongly influenced by fO2, with more subtle composition and cooling rate effects. Moderately oxidizing QFM conditions result in an intense magnetization (2.3 × 10−5 Am2 kg−1 to 1.4 × 10−2 Am2 kg−1), especially in the meteorite-derived basalts. However, an increase of magnetic grain size into the multidomain range (meteorite-type) and/or low unblocking temperatures resulting from increased Cr substitution (TES-type) may affect the long-term stability of the remanence in QFM samples.
Lunar Surface Operation Testbed (LSOT)

This paper describes a high fidelity mission concept systems testbed at JPL, called Lunar Surface Operations Testbed (LSOT). LSOT provides a unique infrastructure that enables mission concept studies designers to configure and demonstrate end-to-end surface operations using existing JPL mission operations and ground support tools, Lander, robotic arm, stereo cameras, flight software, and soil simulant (regolith), in a high fidelity functional testbed. This paper will describe how LSOT was used to support the MoonRise mission concept study. MoonRise: Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return Mission would place a lander in a broad basin near the moon's South Pole and return approximately two pounds of lunar materials to Earth for study. MoonRise was one of three candidate missions competing to be selected as the third mission for NASA's New Frontiers Program of Solar System Explorations. LSOT was used to demonstrate JPL's extensive experience and understanding of the MoonRise Lander capabilities, design maturity, surface operations systems engineering issues, risks and challenges.
Cracks Faster than the Shear Wave Speed

Classical dynamic fracture theories predict the surface wave speed to be the limiting speed for propagation of in-plane cracks in homogeneous, linear elastic materials subjected to remote loading. This report presents experimental evidence to the contrary. Intersonic shear-dominated crack growth featuring shear shock waves was observed along weak planes in a brittle polyester resin under far-field asymmetric loading. When steady-state conditions were attained, the shear cracks propagated at speeds close to √2 times the material shear wave speed. These observations have similarities to shallow earthquake events where intersonic shear rupture speeds have been surmised.
A strategy for in-flight measurements of physiology of pilots of high-performance fighter aircraft.

Some pilots flying modern high-performance fighter aircraft develop “hypoxia-like” incidents characterized by short periods of confusion and cognitive impairment. The problem is serious and recentl...
Pediatric overweight or obesity: does the label really matter?

Purpose: To discuss the issue of early identification of overweight and obesity in infants and young children and provide some clinical recommendations based on the current evidence and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) newly released guidelines for growth and development. Data sources: Comparison of the growth charts from the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control as well as current literature. Conclusions: Although healthcare providers and the general public recognize overweight and obesity as serious problems, there is still disagreement on what constitutes obesity in infants and young children and when and how to intervene. More research on interventions and outcomes is particularly needed. Implications for practice: The primary care provider deals with the sequelae of obesity on a daily basis. Some recommendations are provided for nurse practitioners who care for infants and children based on current evidence and expert opinion.
Role of alcohol P-450-oxygenase (APO) in microsomal ethanol oxidation☆

The form of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 induced by chronic administration of ethanol to rabbits, designated as P-450ALC or P-450 isozyme 3a, has been purified to homogeneity as judged by several criteria, including NH2- and COOH-terminal amino acid sequence determination. The reconstituted alcohol-P-450 oxygenase (APO) system containing P-450ALC and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase catalyzes the oxidation of a variety of primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, including methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol, n-pentanol, and cyclohexanol. Other purified P-450 cytochromes, including isozymes 2, 3b, 3c, 4, and 6, are much less active than P-450ALC in the oxidation of alcohols. That P-450ALC functions in ethanol oxidation in liver microsomal membranes as well as in the reconstituted system was shown by immunochemical experiments involving inhibition by sheep anti-P-450ALC antibodies. We conclude that P-450ALC is the predominant ethanol-oxidizing cytochrome present after induction by chronic alcohol administration and that the other P-450 cytochromes have low but significant activity in both control and ethanol-induced animals.
Medialization of the vocal cord with fat injection.

A simple way of obtaining a smooth paste of fat for injection for medialization of the vocal cord has been described.
Relationships between silicate melt structure and petrologic processes

Abstract Structure and property data for silicate melts at 1 bar in unary, ternary, quaternary and complex natural compositions have been reviewed. From vibrational and NMR spectroscopic information, the data are consistent with an anionic structure of depolymerized (NBO/T>0) melts that can be described in terms of a small number of stoichiometrically simple anionic units. Aluminum in aluminosilicate melts generally is distributed between these units with a very strong preference for the most polymerized unit. Ferric iron generally is in tetrahedral coordination, but when Fe3/ΣFe is less than about 0.3, octahedral coordination dominates. Phosphorus and titanium most probably are tetrahedrally coordinated, but these cations form separate complexes instead of substitution for Si4+ in the anionic network. Expressions that relate proportions of anionic units to overall melt polymerization and Al/(Al + Si) have been derived from the simple system data. These and other information are then employed to estimate the anionic structure of natural silicate melts at 1 bar. The nonbridging oxygens per tetrahedrally coordinated cations in natural magmatic liquids generally fall in the range between 0 and 1 with increasing degree of depolymerization (increasing NBO/T) as a melt becomes more mafic. The principal anionic units in magmatic liquids are three-dimensional network units, units withNBO/T= 1, 2, and 4. The principal reservoir of nonbridging oxygens is found in the units withNBO/T= 2. The numerically dominant network-modifying cation is natural magmatic liquids in magnesium, followed be ferrous iron. Alkali metals usually are needed to charge-balance tetrahedrally coordinated Al3+, and play a subordinate role as network-modifier in most magmatic liquids. Many properties of silicate melts can be rationalized in terms of mixing of these simple anionic units. These properties include viscosity, volume properties, thermochemical properties and liquidus phase relations.
Mining Sequential Constraints for Pseudo-Functional Testing

Using DFT methods such as scan can improve testability and increase fault coverage. However, scan tests may scan in illegal or unreachable states during test application, which may result in incidental detection of functional untestable delay faults during the scan test. This paper presents novel mining techniques for fast top-down functional constraint extraction. The extracted functional constraints capture illegal states through internal signal relations. Imposing these relations as functional constraints to a commercial ATPG tool allows for the generation of effective pseudo-functional tests. We analyze its impact on minimizing the over-testing problem of the scan- based circuits. The experimental results on transition faults and path delay faults reveal that the proposed method produces a small fraction, yet extremely powerful functional constraints effective for constraining the state space.
Laser excitation of the 5d2D52 level of Cs during collision with rare gas atoms

Abstract Two series of transitions involving excitation of the 5d 2 D 5 2 excited state of Cs, np 2 P 3 2 ← 5d 2 D 5 2 ( n = 11–16) and nf ·- , … 5d 2 D 5 2 ( n = 8—14), have been observed as a flourescence excitation spectrum in Cs—rare gas mixtures using a N 2 laser pumped dye laser. The population of the 5d 2 D 5 2 level of Cs is explained as a laser excitation during a Cs—rare gas collision.
Soil water depletion in irrigated mature pecans under contrasting soil textures for arid Southern New Mexico

Relationship between plant water stress and soil water depletion (SWD) is not investigated thoroughly for irrigated pecans of southern New Mexico. In this study, transient soil water contents, rootzone SWD, and midday stem water potential (SWP) were monitored in mature pecan orchards in sandy loam (Site 1) and silty clay loam (Site 2) soils near Las Cruces, New Mexico. Corresponding to transient variations of soil water content at different depths, daily SWD varied with soil depth but not spatially. The SWD within the rootzone (0–80 cm) was higher in the shallow depths (0–40 cm) where root length density (RLD) was also higher than in the deeper depths (40–80 cm). The SWD at Site 1 was higher compared to Site 2 due to the higher clay content of the latter. The SWD patterns at outside the tree driplines were similar to those under-canopy locations because of similar RLD at the shallow depths. At both pecan orchards, differences in SWP at 2.5, 4.5, and 7.6 m tree heights were evident particularly 10–14 days after irrigation. This was due to the stress caused by decreasing soil water contents at different depths, which were generally significantly correlated with SWP. Midday air temperature was as useful as midday atmospheric vapor pressure deficit for interpreting SWP. Combined influence of soil water content (0–40 cm) and air temperature on midday SWP was significant at both orchards, which can be used as an adjunct for the clear interpretation of SWP to help refine irrigation scheduling.
The effect of knowledge of reversibility on the reversibility of ambiguous figures

The role of knowledge of the reversibility of reversible figures was tested in four experiments. Two ambiguous figures, the vase-face figure and a depth-reversing pyramid-hallway figure were shown to high school students. In the Uninformed condition, subjects were not told that the figures were reversible. A sampling procedure was used in which subjects reported what they perceived at 5-sec intervals. Viewing durations of up to 3 min were used, and approximately half of all subjects did not reverse at all during the uninformed condition, whereas virtually all subjects reversed quickly and frequently once they knew that the figures were reversible. These results are not consistent with neural fatigue models of perceptual reversal.
Dynamical blueprints: exploiting levels of system-environment interaction

Developmental systems typically produce a phenotype through a generative process whose outcome depends on feedback from the environment. In most artificial developmental systems, this feedback occurs in one way: The environment affects the development process, but the development process does not necessarily affect the environment. Here we explore a condition where both the developing system and the environment affect each other on a similar timescale, thus resulting in system-environment dynamical interaction. Using a model inspired by termite nest construction, we demonstrate how evolution can exploit this system-environment dynamics to generate adaptive and self-repairing structure more efficiently than a purely reactive developmental system. Finally, we offer a metric to quantify the level of interaction and distinguish between reactive and interactive developmental systems.
Comparative environmental tolerances of threatened delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) and introduced wakasagi (H. nipponensis) in an altered California estuary

In California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin estuary, environmental protection and habitat restoration efforts directed at a threatened native osmerid, the delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), are complicated by the presence of a morphologically similar non-native congener, the wakasagi (H. nipponensis), transported to the estuary from upstream reservoirs. In order to better define delta smelt critical habitat and to evaluate the potential for habitat overlap by these two species, we compared the tolerances of the two species to temperature, salinity, and water velocity, environmental factors that vary spatially and temporally within the estuary. For fishes acclimated to 17°C and fresh water (0 ppt), we measured critical thermal maxima and minima, chronic upper salinity tolerance limits, and critical swimming velocities. Wakasagi had higher critical thermal maxima (29.1°C vs. 25.4°C for delta smelt), lower critical thermal minima (2.3°C vs. 7.5°C for delta smelt), higher upper salinity tolerances (26.8 ppt vs. 19.1 ppt for delta smelt), and swam faster (for 6–6.9 cm SL fish, 43.3 cm s–1 vs. 28.2 cm s–1 for delta smelt) than delta smelt. This suggests that the wide seasonal and year-to-year fluctuations in temperature, salinity, and flow typical in the estuary would not exclude wakasagi, although their eggs and larvae may be less tolerant. With respect to these factors, the native delta smelt may be at a physiological disadvantage, particularly in habitats with suboptimal environmental conditions, and may be excluded from shallow-water habitat restoration sites, which are characterized by poor circulation, low flows, and more environmentally extreme conditions. The low abundance of wakasagi in the estuary recorded to date may indicate that factors other than temperature, salinity, and flow determine wakasagi distribution.
ACCURACY OF G2 CALCULATIONS FOR THE REACTIONS OF HYDROXYL RADICALS WITH ALKANES

Ab initio calculations at the G2 and G2(MP2) levels have been used to investigate the reactions of hydroxyl with methane, ethane, propane (2° position), and isobutane (3° position). Transition states were located, and activation energies as well as reaction enthalpies were computed. In general, the two computational methods give similar results. In terms of reaction enthalpies, the calculations underestimate them by about 1 kcal/mol. As for activation energies, an average error of ∼1 kcal/mol is observed; however, the ab initio results systematically overestimate the stabilizing effects of α-methyl substituents on the transition states. As a result, a fairly large error (3.2 kcal/mol) is found when comparing the barriers for methane and isobutane. The results suggest that G2 values be used with caution in these systems.
INELASTIC ELECTRON-DEUTERON SCATTERING CROSS SECTIONS AT HIGH ENERGIES

The effects on the cross sections for the inelastic electron-deuteron scattering process $e+d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}e+n+p$ of interactions between the outgoing nucleons are examined in detail. The cross sections are calculated in the first Born approximation with respect to the electromagnetic interaction using nucleon wave functions modified by the final state interactions. Crude estimates indicate that the peak value of the cross section $\frac{{d}^{2}\ensuremath{\sigma}}{(d{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{e}d{{E}_{e}}^{\ensuremath{'}})}$ may be decreased by \ensuremath{\sim}5-10% in the presence of such interactions. It is shown in an Appendix that additional decreases of \ensuremath{\sim}5% will result when proper account is taken of the $D$-state component of the deuteron wave function. These changes in the cross section affect appreciably the determination of the neutron magnetic form factor from the experimental scattering cross sections. A new method of measuring the magnetic form factor based on the angular distribution of the outgoing nucleons is therefore proposed which eliminates almost all the uncertainties relating to the deuteron wave function and the effects of final state interactions. This method may also be used in conjunction with the dependence of the cross sections on the electron scattering angle to study the behavior of the neutron charge form factor in the region of large momentum transfers. The polarization of the outgoing nucleons is also calculated. While significant information may in principle be obtained from polarization measurements, the required experiments do not appear to be feasible at the present time. In an Appendix, the modifications of the cross sections resulting from relativistic effects are considered, and some uncertainties inherent in previous work are clarified.
External Quantum Efficiency Above 100% in a Singlet-Exciton-Fission–Based Organic Photovoltaic Cell

Singlet exciton fission transforms a molecular singlet excited state into two triplet states, each with half the energy of the original singlet. In solar cells, it could potentially double the photocurrent from high-energy photons. We demonstrate organic solar cells that exploit singlet exciton fission in pentacene to generate more than one electron per incident photon in a portion of the visible spectrum. Using a fullerene acceptor, a poly(3-hexylthiophene) exciton confinement layer, and a conventional optical trapping scheme, we show a peak external quantum efficiency of (109 ± 1)% at wavelength λ = 670 nanometers for a 15-nanometer-thick pentacene film. The corresponding internal quantum efficiency is (160 ± 10)%. Analysis of the magnetic field effect on photocurrent suggests that the triplet yield approaches 200% for pentacene films thicker than 5 nanometers.
Are risk factors for breast cancer associated with follow-up procedures in diverse women with abnormal mammography?

Objective We evaluated the association of risk factors for breast cancer with reported follow-up procedures after abnormal mammography among diverse women. Methods: Women ages 40–80 years were recruited from four clinical sites after receiving a screening mammography result that was classified as abnormal but probably benign, suspicious or highly suspicious, or indeterminate using standard criteria. A telephone-administered survey asked about breast cancer risk factors (family history, estrogen use, physical inactivity, age of menarche, age at birth of first child, parity, alcohol use), and self-reported use of diagnostic tests (follow-up mammogram, breast ultrasound, or biopsy). Results: Nine hundred and seventy women completed the interview, mean age was 56, 42% were White, 19% Latina, 25% African American, and 15% Asian. White women were more likely to have a positive family history (20%), use estrogen (32%), be nulliparous (17%) and drink alcohol (62%). Latinas were more likely to be physically inactive (93%), African Americans to have early onset of menarche (53%) and Asians first child after age 30 (21%). White women were more likely to have suspicious mammograms (40%) and to undergo biopsy (45%). In multivariate models, Latinas were more likely to report breast ultrasound, physical inactive women reported fewer follow-up mammograms, and care outside the academic health center was associated with fewer biopsies. Indeterminate and suspicious mammography interpretations were significantly associated with more biopsy procedures (OR=8.4; 95% CI = 3.8–18.5 and OR=59; 95% CI = 35–100, respectively). Conclusions: Demographic profile and breast cancer risk factors have little effect on self-reported use of diagnostic procedures following an abnormal mammography examination. Level of mammography abnormality determines diagnostic evaluation but variance by site of care was observed.
Architecture, constraints, and behavior

This paper aims to bridge progress in neuroscience involving sophisticated quantitative analysis of behavior, including the use of robust control, with other relevant conceptual and theoretical frameworks from systems engineering, systems biology, and mathematics. Familiar and accessible case studies are used to illustrate concepts of robustness, organization, and architecture (modularity and protocols) that are central to understanding complex networks. These essential organizational features are hidden during normal function of a system but are fundamental for understanding the nature, design, and function of complex biologic and technologic systems.
Lower bounds on the computational efficiency of optical computing systems.

A general model for determining the computational efficiency of optical computing systems, termed the VLSIO model, is described. It is a 3-D generalization of the wire model of a 2-D VLSI with optical beams (via Gabor’s theorem) replacing the wires as communication channels. Lower bounds (in terms of simultaneous volume and time) on the computational resources of the VLSIO are obtained for computing various problems such as matrix multiplication.
tert‐Butyl‐tert‐Octylamine

tert-Butyl-tert-octylamine intermediate: 29.7 g of nitroso-tert-octane intermediate: N-tert-butyl-N-tert-octyl-O-tert-butylhydroxylamine intermediate: N-tert-octyl-O-tert-butylhydroxylamine product: tert-butyl-tert-octylamine Keywords: addition, to NO; alkylation, N-alkylation; alkylation, O-alkylation; oxidation, nh2NO; reduction, miscellaneous; tert-butylhydrazine, from the hydrochloride
The effect of the chip rate on the performance of a CDMA system with a selective fading channel

The bit error probability is determined for direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system communications over doubly selective fading channels. The effect of the chip rate on the performance is considered for both a correlation receiver and a rake receiver. Several selective fading channels are employed as examples to illustrate that the choice of the best chip rate depends upon the characteristics of the channel and the number of taps in the rake receiver. The tradeoff between the number of taps and the bit error probability is investigated for different chip rates. Additionally, the effects of Doppler spread on the performance of the system and the choice of chip rate are considered. >
“I Name it and I Claim it—In the Name of Jesus, this Job is Mine”: Job Search, Networks, and Careers for Low-Income Women:

Much of the quantitative research on labor market attachment within female low-wage labor markets de-emphasizes the variation within this population. Based on in-depth interviews with 92 women on welfare in San Francisco, this article develops a typology of labor market attachment using cluster analysis and illustrates the variation within this labor market segment by focusing on clerical jobs. Various supply-side factors (i.e., education, work experience, and network structure) and demand-side factors (i.e., wages and occupation) interact with the job search method to shape labor market attachment. For chronically unemployed women, informal job search methods in part explain poor labor market outcomes, whereas career-oriented women use network resources and education to connect to career paths. Policies to increase labor market attachment should recognize the interconnectedness of job search strategies, human capital, networks, and demand-side factors by improving employment brokering and addressing long...
Concentrated mesh and fat tree usage efficiency in System-on-Chip based multiprocessor distributed processing architectures

Distributed Processing Systems (DPS) take sophisticated tasks as input, and process them in a distributed manner using spread resources. In this paper, we evaluate DPS implemented on low-level System-on-Chip (SoC) interconnection architectures: mesh, concentrated mesh and fat tree. We propose autonomous algorithms for nodes and routers and define efficiency metrics that are used later for evaluation. The evaluation is performed by a dedicated experimentation system, in which fully functional DPS is implemented. In this paper, we focus on resource utilization in interconnection networks and also present their energy consumption. Tradeoff between utilization and electrical energy consumption is presented. Research results show that the concentrated mesh is a promising interconnection network suitable to handle the needs of distributed processing systems.
Turbulent dissipation estimates from pulse coherent doppler instruments

Utilizing a commercially available acoustic Doppler velocimeter, the Nortek Vectrino with optional plus (+) firmware, measurements of turbulence are made in a turbulent open channel flow in the 8m Research Flume of the DeFrees Hydraulics Laboratory. The measurements are used to estimate dissipation (e) from Kolmogorov's 2/3, 5/3 and 4/5 Laws as well as integration of the dissipation spectrum. Corrections to remove bias due to Doppler noise are carried out when appropriate. Results from the four methods are compared to jusge the validity of each for use with single point velocity measuremnts from an acoustic Doppler Velocimeter. The 4/5 Law is the most consistent across each velocity component, but all methods produce reasonable estimates of dissipation from at least one velocity component.
Meningococcal molecular mimicry and the search for an ideal vaccine

The carbohydrates expressed on the surface of meningococcal strains of groups B and C mimic those commonly found on human cells and thus are not functionally antigenic in infancy. In order to develop an effective vaccine, it will be necessary to find ways of circumventing this molecular mimicry. Three possible ways of achieving this are discussed. (i) The surface polysaccharides can theoretically present conformationally different epitopes, some of which might be recognized as antigenic by the host. Experimental evidence is presented that such differences do indeed exist; what is needed is to determine which of these conformations are unique to the organism and hence potentially antigenic. (ii) Precursors of the surface lipooligosaccharides may be unable to mimic human antigens, and so may be potential candidates for vaccine development. (iii) Natural immunity to some strains of meningococci develops in young children who are colonized with strains of Neisseria lactamica, and it is possible that its development could be enhanced by widespread intentional colonization by N. lactamica strains that are particularly efficient inducers of broad immunity.
Effect of drift-resonance broadening on radial diffusion in the magnetosphere

In the quasilinear theory of magnetospheric radial diffusion caused by fluctuating electrostatic (E) or magnetic (B) fields, the diffusion coefficientDLLis proportional to the spectral density of E or B at the particle drift frequency Ω3/2π. Since Ω3 varies withL at fixedM andJ (adiabatic invariants), the drift resonance ω=Ω3 can be maintained only transiently, and therefore is not perfectly sharp. Its bandwidth Δω* is approximately (16πDLL/L2Ω3)1/3Ω3. In magnetospheric radial diffusion caused mainly by electrostatic fluctuations, the value of Δω*Ω3 typically exceeds 0.4 for particle energiesE≲40 keV. However, the numerical value ofDLLis correctly given (within 1% in all cases) by quasilinear theory because the spectrum of E is rather flat at resonance frequencies for which the bandwidth is an appreciable fraction of Ω3. (Numerical conclusions are based on a quasilinear model forDLLused successfully by Cornwall in 1972.)
Changes in monoterpene mixing ratios during summer storms in rural New Hampshire (USA)

Abstract. Monoterpenes are an important class of biogenic hydrocarbons that influence ambient air quality and are a principle source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Emitted from vegetation, monoterpenes are a product of photosynthesis and act as a response to a variety of environmental factors. Most parameterizations of monoterpene emissions are based on clear weather models that do not take into account episodic conditions that can drastically change production and release rates into the atmosphere. Here, the monoterpene dataset from the rural Thompson Farm measurement site in Durham, New Hampshire is examined in the context of a set of known severe storm events. While some storm systems had a negligible influence on ambient monoterpene mixing ratios, the average storm event increased mixing ratios by 0.59 ± 0.21 ppbv, a factor of 93% above pre-storm levels. In some events, mixing ratios reached the 10's of ppbv range and persisted overnight. These mixing ratios correspond to increases in the monoterpene emission rate, ranging from 120 to 1240 g km−2 h−1 compared to an estimated clear weather rate of 116 to 193 g km−2 h−1. Considering the regularity of storm events over most forested areas, this could be an important factor to consider when modeling global monoterpene emissions and their resulting influence on the formation of organic aerosols.
Code Generation and Optimization of Distributed-Memory Dense Linear Algebra Kernels

Design by Transformation (DxT) is an approach to software development that encodes domain-specific programs as graphs and expert design knowledge as graph transformations. The goal of DxT is to mechanize the generation of highly-optimized code. This paper demonstrates how DxT can be used to transform sequential specifications of an important set of Dense Linear Algebra (DLA) kernels, the level-3 Basic Linear Algebra Subprograms (BLAS3), into high-performing library routines targeting distributed-memory (cluster) architectures. Getting good BLAS3 performance for such platforms requires deep domain knowledge, so their implementations are manually coded by experts. Unfortunately, there are few such experts and developing the full variety of BLAS3 implementations takes a lot of repetitive e ort. A prototype tool, DxTer, automates this tedious task. We explain how we build on previous work to represent loops and multiple loop-based algorithms in DxTer. Performance results on a BlueGene/P parallel supercomputer show that the generated code meets or beats implementations that are hand-coded by a human expert and outperforms the widely used ScaLAPACK library.
Love, Knowledge, and Mystical Union in Western Christianity: Twelfth to Sixteenth Centuries

All ideals of Christian perfection, and mysticism is certainly one of these, are forms of response to the presence of God, a presence that is not open, evident, or easily accessible, but that is always in some way mysterious or hidden. When that hidden presence becomes the subject of some form of immediate experience, we can perhaps begin to speak of mysticism in the proper sense of the term. The responses of the subject to immediate divine presence have been discussed theologically in a variety of ways and according to a number of different models. Among them we might list direct contemplation or vision of God, rapture or ecstasy, deification, living in Christ, the birth of the Word in the soul, radical obedience to the directly present will of God, and especially union with God. All of these responses, which have rarely been mutually exclusive, can be called mystical in the sense that they are answers to the immediately experienced divine presence. Therefore, the mysticism of union is just one of the species of a wider and more diverse genus or group.
Support for the microenvironment hypothesis for adaptive value of gall induction in the California gall wasp, Andricus quercuscalifornicus

Three major hypotheses have been advanced for the adaptive nature of plant galls: nutrition, enemy-avoidance, and microenvironment. Of these, the microenvironment hypothesis has been frequently invoked, but rarely tested directly. We tested this hypothesis in a population of Andricus quercuscalifornicus (Bassett) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) wasps inducing galls on Quercus lobata Nee (Fagaceae) trees in Northern California, USA. Relative humidity and temperature data gathered from both immature and mature galls in the field indicated that A. quercuscalifornicus larvae modify their microenvironments significantly by raising and stabilizing relative humidity levels inside galls to near saturation. In addition, excised larvae maintained under experimental conditions survived significantly longer under levels of high relative humidity. These data support the hypothesis that through gall induction, A. quercuscalifornicus manipulates its environment adaptively.
A Method of Growing Chick Embryos In Vitro

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE interest in growing chick embryos in vitro is not new. Romanoff (1943) used 50 ml. beakers and obtained consistently good results to 48 hours, if the embryos were not shaken. The main problem was to obtain enough fresh air without drying out the embryo. Kosin (1945) employed a 30 ml. tall form beaker. He used this method of confirming the macroscopic method of identifying fertile, unincubated germ disks. Quisenberry and Dillon (1962) employed a plastic shell and obtained normal embryonic development up to six days of age. Williams and Boone (1961) successfully grew embryos in petri dishes and in evaporating dishes. They were able to maintain embryonic growth up to six days. However, in some instances the growth rate was retarded. The object of this experiment was to test various size beakers, incubators and several types of transparent covering to determine which types of material permit proper ventilation…
Incorporation of polarimetric radar images into multisensor data sets

A technique is presented for registering polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data to other aircraft and spaceborne data sets. Resampling is done on the full Stokes matrix, allowing full polarization synthesis on the coregistered data set. Analysis of data acquired over Pisgah Crater in the Mojave Desert, CA, as part of the Mojave Field Experiment shows that the resampling does not seriously affect the pedestal heights of polarization signatures or estimates of RMS heights for smooth to moderately rough surfaces. >
Inbreeding, low genetic diversity, and spatial genetic structure in the endemic Hawaiian lobeliads Clermontia fauriei and Cyanea pilosa ssp. longipedunculata

The endemic lobeliad genera Cyanea and Clermontia (Campanulaceae) are among the largest in the native Hawaiian flora, and contain large numbers of endangered and threatened taxa. As a baseline for future studies of rare species in this group, we used RAD markers to estimate genetic variation and spatial genetic structure in single populations of two common species, Cyanea pilosa ssp. longipedunculata on Hawai`i and Clermontia fauriei on Kaua`i. We found low to moderate levels of genetic diversity (He ≈ 0.13 and πall ≈ 0.0013 for both species), consistent with studies of several other island plant species, and substantial inbreeding (Fis ≈ 0.17). There was no evidence for spatial genetic structure in Cyanea, and in Clermontia SGS was weak and restricted to small spatial scales (<10 m). The relative dearth of genetic diversity and high levels of inbreeding in these common lobeliads may reflect pre-existing conditions in this group or selfing in response to a decline in native avian pollinators, raising concerns that inbreeding and loss of genetic variation may be even more severe in rare species of this highly diverse but endangered group.
Environmental Action in the Anthropocene: The Power of Narrative-Networks

abstractIn this article we present a ‘narrative network' approach, which by virtue of its engagement with the non-human and with collaborative decision-making, is especially well suited to support social scientists in better comprehending the diverse possibilities for environmental governance in the Anthropocene. The most highly salient Anthropocene narrative is focused on physical phenomena, and neglects the importance and dynamism of the social landscape. Despite the dire warnings conveyed by this narrative dominated by the physical sciences, the solutions it recommends rely on status quo institutional arrangements. In this article, we explain and illustrate how the narrative-network analysis can identify and describe successful political action by largely informal networks that bridge geographic, economic, cultural, and political differences and embrace participatory environmental governance. We illustrate the power of narrative-network analysis to reveal an environmental network in the case of the Son...
Effect of Altered Thyroid Status upon Epinephrine Induced Lipolysis in vitro

SummaryThe effect of pre-treatment with thyroxine and of thyroidectomy upon the in vitro lipolytic response of adipose tissue to epinephrine has been studied. Release of FFA from adipose tissue of thyroxine-treated animals was significantly greater than that of tissues of thyroidectomized animals, and the absolute increase produced by epinephrine was also larger. Adipose tissue of thyroidectomized rats exhibited a significant lipolytic response to epinephrine. The fractional increase induced by a dilute concentration of epinephrine was independent of thyroid status. The lipolytic response of tissues of hypothyroid, hyperthyroid and eu-thyroid rats to a high concentration of epi-nephrine was essentially the same. It is suggested that the magnitude of the lipolytic response to physiologic doses of epinephrine may be related to the basal lipolytic activity of the adipose tissue.The technical assistance of Miss Patricia Gordon and Mrs. Louise Melendy is gratefully acknowledged.
Using Marijuana in Adulthood: The Experience of a Sample of Users in Oklahoma City

This study examines marijuana involvement among a sample of adult users in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 adult marijuana users between 2000 and 2002. Qualitative analyses of data on patterns of marijuana involvement in adulthood were conducted. Marijuana use is a leisure-time activity users engage in with close peers or alone. Adult users limit their consumption of marijuana to free time, and keep their marijuana use from interfering with other responsibilities. These adult users are controlled marijuana users; they view their involvement with marijuana as a personal, private, recreational activity.