cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic Dissection of Vps13 Regulation in Yeast Using Disease Mutations from Human Orthologs

The VPS13 family of proteins have emerged as key players in intracellular lipid transport and human health. Humans have four different VPS13 orthologs, the dysfunction of which leads to different diseases. Yeast has a single VPS13 gene, which encodes a protein that localizes to multiple different membrane contact sites. The yeast vps13Δ mutant is pleiotropic, exhibiting defects in sporulation, protein trafficking, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-phagy and mitochondrial function. Non-null alleles resulting from missense mutations can be useful reagents for understanding the multiple functions of a gene. The exceptionally large size of Vps13 makes the identification of key residues challenging. As a means to identify critical residues in yeast Vps13, amino acid substitution mutations from VPS13A, B, C and D, associated with human disease, were introduced at the cognate positions of yeast VPS13, some of which created separation-of-function alleles. Phenotypic analyses of these mutants have revealed that the promotion of ER-phagy is a fourth, genetically separable role of VPS13 and provide evidence that co-adaptors at the endosome mediate the activity of VPS13 in vacuolar sorting.
Compact representations of structured BFGS matrices

For general large-scale optimization problems compact representations exist in which recursive quasi-Newton update formulas are represented as compact matrix factorizations. For problems in which the objective function contains additional structure, recent structured quasi-Newton methods exploit available second-derivative information and approximate unavailable second derivatives. This article develops the compact representations of two structured Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno update formulas. The compact representations enable efficient limited memory and initialization strategies. Two limited memory line search algorithms are described for which extensive numerical results demonstrate the efficacy of the algorithms, including comparisons to IPOPT on large machine learning problems, and to L-BFGS on a real world large scale ptychographic imaging application.
Expression patterns of Arc mRNA after renewal of appetitive behavior in female rats.

Renewal of appetitive behavior depends on the gonadal hormonal state of the female rat. In this experiment the effect of female rat estrous cycle stage on renewal of appetitive behaviors is replicated and extended upon to understand how endogenous hormonal states around the estrous cycle drive renewal at the neuronal population level. Estrous cycle stage (i.e., proestrus (P, high hormone) or metestrus/diestrus (M/D, low hormone)) was considered during two important learning and behavioral expression windows: at extinction training and during LTM/renewal testing. First, rats in P during context-dependent extinction training but in some other stage of the estrous cycle during long-term memory and renewal testing (Different) were shown to exhibit more renewal of conditioned foodcup (but not conditioned orienting) behavior compared to rats in other estrous cycle groups. Next, cellular compartment analysis of temporal activity using fluorescence in situ hybridization (catFISH) was used to examine immediate early gene activity of Arc mRNA in neuronal populations after distinct context-stimulus exposures (i.e., extinction and acquisition test contexts). Arc mRNA expression patterns were examined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, hippocampus (HPC), and paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. P-different rats showed differential neuronal population activity in the infralimbic cortex of the PFC, the lateral amygdaloid nucleus, and both CA1 and CA3 regions of the dorsal HPC. In each region P-different rats exhibited more co-expression and less specificity of Arc mRNA compared to other hormonal groups, indicating that renewal of appetitive foodcup behavior induces Arc mRNA in overlapping neuronal populations in female rats.
SCENIC: A JAX Library for Computer Vision Research and Beyond

Scenic is an open-source JAX library with a focus on Transformer-based models for computer vision research and beyond. The goal of this toolkit is to facilitate rapid experimentation, prototyping, and research of new vision architectures and models. Scenic supports a diverse range of vision tasks (e.g., classification, segmentation, detection)and facilitates working on multi-modal problems, along with GPU/TPU support for multi-host, multi-device large-scale training. Scenic also offers optimized implementations of state-of-the-art research models spanning a wide range of modalities. Scenic has been successfully used for numerous projects and published papers and continues serving as the library of choice for quick prototyping and publication of new research ideas.
Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV2 vaccination in rituximab-treated patients: Effect of timing and immunologic parameters.

Rituximab (RTX), an important therapeutic option for patients with rheumatic diseases, has been shown to reduce immune responses to various vaccines. We asked whether following SARS-CoV2 vaccination, response rates in RTX treated patients are reduced and whether specific patient characteristics influence the responses. We recruited patients on chronic RTX therapy undergoing anti-SARS-CoV2 vaccination and measured the post-vaccination anti-spike IgG antibody levels. The median time from pre-vaccination RTX infusion to vaccination and from vaccination to the post-vaccination RTX infusion was 20.5 weeks and 7.2 weeks respectively. Only 36.5% of patients developed measurable titers of IgG anti-SARS-CoV2 spike antibody after vaccination. Hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG and/or IgM) but not timing of vaccination, B cell numbers, or concomitant immune suppressive medications, correlated with sero-negativity (p = 0.004). Our results underscore the fact that even after B cell reconstitution, RTX induced chronic hypogammaglobulinemia significantly impairs the ability of the immune system to respond to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Significance of Extraction Forces in Kidney Stone Basketing

Abstract Introduction: Ureteroscopic stone extraction devices are effective tools in the management of urolithiasis, but on occasion, their improper use can cause injury to the ureter. Avulsion and perforation of the ureter as a result of excessive forces on the extraction device are some of the more serious complications of this treatment. Materials and Methods: In this article, avulsion and perforation forces were measured by two different test setups. Eleven clinicians were asked to apply three ranges of forces (safe, cautious, and dangerous). Results: The output force measurements were recorded and plotted for further analysis. The maximal average perforation forces were 7.13±2.36 N in the benchtop tests and 7.07±2.20 N in the ex-vivo porcine tests (P=0.54). The maximal average avulsion forces were measured to be 10.14±2.01 N in the benchtop tests. Although the average forces were similar in the proximal and distal parts of the ureter (P=0.27), higher values were recorded for the distal part. The oper...
Taking the Castle: Efficiency and the Vibe of It

The owners of property taken for public use are often compensated for their loss. Compensation based on market value is known to create a moral hazard problem and induce inefficient investment. However, no compensation, while efficiency inducing, is not a feasible, or desirable alternative, because it is perceived to be unfair: individual landowners crushed under the governmental leviathan. An alternative is proposed for public projects (as road construction) for which all benefits are incorporated in land values. In this case compensation based on the value of a property had it not been taken, rather than its market value prior to the public project, is both efficient and fair.
Re: Intraforaminal location of the great anterior radiculomedullary artery (artery of Adamkiewicz): a retrospective review.

I read with great interest your article by Naveen Murthy et al. entitled Intraforaminal Location of the Great Anterior Radiculomedullary Artery (Artery of Adamkiewicz): A Retrospective Review [1]. I feel that the authors did an excellent job in identifying the location of the artery …
Effects of Display Failures and Symbol Rotation on Visual Search Using Dot-Matrix Symbols

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of display failures and rotation of dot-matrix symbols on visual search performance. The type of display failure (cell, horizontal line, vertical line), failure mode (ON, failures matched the symbols; OFF, failures matched the background), percentage of failures (0, 1, 2, 3, 4%), and rotation angle (0, 70, 105 degrees) were the variables examined. Results showed that displays which exhibit ON cell failures greater than 1% significantly affect search time performance. Cell failures degrade performance more than line failures. Search time and accuracy were best when symbols were oriented upright. The effects of display failures and rotation angle were found to be independent. Implications for display design and suggestions for quantifying the distortion due to rotation are discussed.
Pam and Its Ortholog Highwire Interact with and May Negatively Regulate the TSC1·TSC2 Complex *

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with mutations in TSC1, which codes for hamartin, or TSC2, which codes for tuberin. The brain is one of the most severely affected organs, and CNS lesions include cortical tubers and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, resulting in mental retardation and seizures. Tuberin and hamartin function together as a complex in mammals and Drosophila. We report here the association of Pam, a protein identified as an interactor of Myc, with the tuberin-hamartin complex in the brain. The C terminus of Pam containing the RING zinc finger motif binds to tuberin. Pam is expressed in embryonic and adult brain as well as in cultured neurons. Pam has two forms in the rat CNS, an ∼450-kDa form expressed in early embryonic stages and an ∼350-kDa form observed in the postnatal period. In cortical neurons, Pam co-localizes with tuberin and hamartin in neurites and growth cones. Although Pam function(s) are yet to be defined, the highly conserved Pam homologs, HIW (Drosophila) and RPM-1 (Caenorhabditis elegans), are neuron-specific proteins that regulate synaptic growth. Here we show that HIW can genetically interact with the Tsc1·Tsc2 complex in Drosophila and could negatively regulate Tsc1·Tsc2 activity. Based on genetic studies, HIW has been implicated in ubiquitination, possibly functioning as an E3 ubiquitin ligase through the RING zinc finger domain. Therefore, we hypothesize that Pam, through its interaction with tuberin, could regulate the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the tuberin-hamartin complex particularly in the CNS.
Differential Diagnosis of Psychiatric Symptoms After Deep Brain Stimulation for Movement Disorders

Objectives The presence of a deep brain stimulator (DBS) in a patient with a movement disorder who develops psychiatric symptoms poses unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the treating clinician. Few sources discuss approaches to diagnosing and treating these symptoms. Materials and Methods The authors review the literature on psychiatric complications in DBS for movement disorders and propose a heuristic for categorizing symptoms according to their temporal relationship with the DBS implantation process. Results Psychiatric symptoms after DBS can be categorized as preimplantation, intra-operative/perioperative, stimulation related, device malfunction, medication related, and chronic stimulation related/long term. Once determined, the specific etiology of a symptom guides the practitioner in treatment. Conclusions A structured approach to psychiatric symptoms in DBS patients allows practitioners to effectively diagnose and treat them when they arise.
Dendritic growth and remodeling of cat retinal ganglion cells during fetal and postnatal development

We have studied the development of retinal ganglion cell morphology in the cat's visual system from early fetal to postnatal times. In particular, we have examined the contribution of growth and remodeling to the establishment of mature retinal ganglion cell form. Ganglion cells were identified by retrograde labeling with rhodamine latex microspheres deposited in the superior colliculus and lateral geniculate nucleus between embryonic day 34 (E34; birth = E65) and adulthood. To reveal the fine morphological details of retrogradely labeled ganglion cells, 48 hr later Lucifer yellow was injected intracellularly in living retinae that had been dissected and maintained in vitro. Our results show that at E35–37 the majority of ganglion cells are very simple in morphology, with a few dendritic processes that are generally aligned in a radial direction towards or away from the optic disc. During the ensuing 2 week period, there is a progressive growth and elaboration of dendrites. By E50, some ganglion cells resembling the adult alpha, beta, and gamma classes can be identified based on comparisons of the appearance and dimensions of their dendritic trees and somata with neighboring filled cells. However, ganglion cell dendrites and axons at this age express several transient morphological features. The axons of ganglion cells give rise to delicate processes originating from the intraretinal portion of the axon, including side branches, present in about half of the cells, and occasionally bifurcations that give rise to axon collaterals. These transient axonal features are present throughout development, including the neonatal period; no axon collaterals were observed after postnatal day 15, while axonal side branches persisted even at P31 but were gone by adulthood. Ganglion cell dendrites exhibit excessive branches and exuberant somatic and dendritic spines. Quantitative analysis of these processes shows that after E45 dendritic trees increase dramatically in complexity, reaching the peak number of spines and branch points by the first week of postnatal life. The number of dendritic processes then falls abruptly to reach near-adult levels by the end of the first postnatal month. Even though dendritic morphology closely resembles that seen in the adult at this age, ganglion cell bodies and dendrites must continue to grow to reach their adult size
Patient-Reported Functional and Quality of Life Outcomes in a Large Cohort of Long-Term Survivors of Ewing Sarcoma.

Background Little data exist regarding long-term functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes for survivors of Ewing sarcoma (ES). Specifically, there are few reports assessing the impact of patient characteristics and local therapy modalities on patient-reported outcomes (PRO). Procedure Long-term survivors of ES treated between 1977 and 2009 completed self-assessed functional and QOL surveys, using the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) and PEDSQL 4.0 generic core instruments, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed to correlate these outcomes to clinical presentations and treatment regimens. Results Subjects (n = 74) with a mean duration from diagnosis of 17.8 years completed the survey. Mean TESS and PEDSQL total scores for the entire cohort were 93.0 ± 10.3 and 81.6 ± 18.0, respectively. No significant differences were appreciated between adult and pediatric patients, although increasing age was associated with lower functional scores (P = 0.04). Mean PEDSQL total scores were significantly lower for female patients (74.6 ± 19.7) compared to males (85.7 ± 15.7) (P = 0.01). Mild to moderate disability was reported by 32% of respondents and was associated with lower TESS and PEDSQL scores. Local control modality did not significantly affect functional and QOL scores. Patients with pelvic tumors had significantly lower TESS scores compared to those with nonpelvic tumors (P = 0.04), especially amongst patients treated with both surgery and radiation. Conclusions Although many survivors of ES report excellent functional and QOL outcomes, a significant number report long-term disability and impairments. Older patients, females, and those with pelvic primary tumors appear at the greatest risk for long-term decrements and may benefit from early therapeutic interventions. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015; 9999:XX–XX © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of ethanol on amino acids and related compounds in rat plasma, heart, aorta, bronchus, and pancreas.

The composition of 36 amino acids and related amino compounds is presented for plasma, aorta, heart, pancreas, and bronchi. The distribution pattern of these biochemicals is similar but not identical among the tissues. The effect of an acute dose of ethanol (2 g/kg, IP) on these amino acids and related compounds was then studied. In the plasma, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, beta-alanine, glycine, phenylalanine, and serine are decreased. In the aorta, ammonia and taurine are decreased. In the heart, aspartic acid and leucine are decreased, and carnosine, GABA, glutamic acid, and ornithine are increased. In the pancreas, asparagine and taurine are decreased, and citrulline, cysteine, histidine, and isoleucine are increased. In the bronchi, GABA, ethanolamine, histidine, taurine, and isoleucine are decreased. A number of correlations of some compounds in plasma or tissues were found but differed often between control and ethanol-treated animals. Ethanol-induced tissue changes generally do not correlate with plasma changes and are mostly specific for a given tissue.
Adenoviruses as Vaccine Vectors

Adenoviruses have transitioned from tools for gene replacement therapy to bona fide vaccine delivery vehicles. They are attractive vaccine vectors as they induce both innate and adaptive immune responses in mammalian hosts. Currently, adenovirus vectors are being tested as subunit vaccine systems for numerous infectious agents ranging from malaria to HIV-1. Additionally, they are being explored as vaccines against a multitude of tumor-associated antigens. In this review we describe the molecular biology of adenoviruses as well as ways the adenovirus vectors can be manipulated to enhance their efficacy as vaccine carriers. We describe methods of evaluating immune responses to transgene products expressed by adenoviral vectors and discuss data on adenoviral vaccines to a selected number of pathogens. Last, we comment on the limitations of using human adenoviral vectors and provide alternatives to circumvent these problems. This field is growing at an exciting and rapid pace, thus we have limited our scope to the use of adenoviral vectors as vaccines against viral pathogens.
Captures of Crawford's Gray Shrews (Notiosorex crawfordi) Along the Rio Grande in Central New Mexico

ABSTRACT We captured >2000 Crawford's gray shrews (Notiosorex crawfordi) in a riparian forest mainly consisting of cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) along the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. Little has been published about abundance and habitat of Crawford's gray shrew throughout its distributional range. During 7 summers, we captured shrews in pitfall traps at 13 study sites in Bernalillo, Valencia, and Socorro counties. Capture rates of shrews were greatest in August and September, and we did not detect a response of shrews to restoration treatments that removed nonnative plants from riparian forests. Results from our study indicate that (1) Crawford's gray shrews are more abundant in riparian habitats than historically presumed and (2) pitfall traps with drift fences are an effective means to capture shrews.
Reduced polymorphism in the chimpanzee semen coagulating protein, semenogelin I.

The semen of many primate species coagulates into a mating plug believed to prevent the sperm of subsequent mating events from accessing the ova. The texture of the coagulum varies among species: from a semisoft mass in humans to a firm plug in chimpanzees. In humans, a component of the coagulum, semenogelin I, also inhibits sperm motility. We tested the hypothesis that polymorphism and divergence at semenogelin I differ among hominoid species with different mating systems. Sequence data for the semenogelin I locus were obtained from 12 humans, 10 chimpanzees, 7 gorillas, and 1 bonobo. Mitochondrial D-loop data were collected from a subset of individuals to assess levels of variation at an unlinked locus. HKA tests using D-loop sequence data revealed a significant reduction of polymorphism at semenogelin I in chimpanzees, consistent with predictions of a selective sweep at this locus. This result was supported by independent HKA tests using polymorphism data from a putatively neutral locus from the literature. Humans show a similar trend toward reduced polymorphism, although HKA tests were only marginally significant. Gorilla sequence data show evidence of functional loss at the semenogelin I locus, indicated by stop codons within the putative open reading frame as well as high levels of polymorphism. Elevated K a/K s ratios within the Pan–Homo clade suggest a history of positive selection at semenogelin I. Our results suggest that there is a positive relationship between the intensity of sperm competition in a species and the strength of positive Darwinian selection on the seminal protein semenogelin I.
Dynamics of Parental Behavior in the Black‐Chinned Mouthbreeder, Tilapia melanotheron1 (Pisces: Cichlidae)2,3

Zusammenfassung Nur einige der Verhaltensweisen von Tilapia macrocephala (= melanotheron), die in der Brutpflegephase auftreten, werden davon beeinflust, ob das ♂ Junge im Maul tragt. Alle Brutpflegehandlungen lassen sich von normalen Atmungs-, Korperpflege- und Nahrungsaufnahmebewegungen ableiten. Das Umschichten der Eier im Maul ist wahrscheinlich am wichtigsten. Es bewegt die Jungen im Atemwasserstrom und andert sich — wie das Facheln von Substratbrutern — mit dem Entwicklungsstand der Jungen. Es hangt aber auch noch von anderem ab: Umschichten stort, aber ersetzt auch funktionell das Atmen und hangt, wie dieses, mit dem Sauerstoffbedarf des Elterntieres zusammen. Vielleicht fuhrt starkere Sauerstoffzufuhr zu starkerer Schwimmblasenfullung. Diese mus kompensiert werden, ebenso das Gewicht der Jungen und ihr Gewichtsverlust, sobald ihre eigene Schwimmblase funktionsfahig ist. All das muste das Atmen und Umschichten beeinflussen. Ein Maulbruter mus Eier und Larven langer im Maul halten als ein Substratbruter, mus also “Husten” und Schlucken entsprechend unterdrucken. Er mus ferner so gahnen, das nichts aus dem Maul fallt; das Maulvorstulpen scheint ein derart modifiziertes Gahnen zu sein. Sich-Kratzen tritt wahrend der ganzen Brutpflegezeit, aber nicht im Zusammenhang mit Ausschwimmversuchen der Jungen auf.
Development and classification of expert systems for chemical process fault diagnosis

Abstract Fault diagnosis of process plants has been addressed by a variety of techniques, including quantitative and qualitative model-based methods and expert systems approaches. The strengths and weaknesses of model-based and experience-based methods are discussed, and it is concluded that both types of reasoning are useful in fault diagnosis. Strategies for development of expert systems that merge model-based information with heuristic and experiential knowledge are examined.
Global Governance Organizations: Legitimacy and Authority in Conflict

Global governance organizations (GGOs) are frequently maligned as both illegitimate and ineffective. With the growing prominence of entities that promulgate global rules governing trade, communications, finance, and transport, these shortcomings take on greater importance. This essay presents a theoretical framework to understand the challenge of legitimacy for GGOs. It argues that GGOs tend to face trade-offs between legitimacy and authority, but that widespread usages of these important terms conflate or confuse them and thus obscure critical issues in GGO politics. Once these terms are more clearly defined, we see more easily that GGOs must sometimes violate democratic norms, sacrificing equality and bureaucratic neutrality, to satisfy key constituencies and thus retain power. The argument lays the foundation for an empirical study that demonstrates how the structure and processes adopted by GGOs are intended to satisfy the conflicting demands of legitimacy and authority.
Land consolidation in the Netherlands

Abstract One of the major structural problems in Dutch agriculture has been the fragmentation of land holdings. This article reviews the history of land consolidation in the Netherlands, from the early negotiations between individual farmers, through the involvement of both government and landowners in national consolidation projects, to the present situation where decisions have been put entirely in the hands of politicians.
The state of plasma albumin in acid pH.

Abstract Bovine plasma albumin has been subjected to attack by pepsin and trypsin after exposure to possible conditions of denaturation at 25 and 60 °, in the pH range 2.3–6.8. Proteolysis parallels the extent of denaturation as indicated by loss of solubility. Increases in viscosity and levorotation previously observed at low pH or in the presence of urea have been shown to signify the transformation of plasma albumin into a form which is resistant to insolubilization. Light-scattering and ultracentrifuge measurements have established that this protein is neither aggregated nor dissociated at low pH, but in fact exhibits considerable molecular stability at low pH, and especially so at low ionic strength.
Quantitative and label-free technique for measuring protease activity and inhibition using a microfluidic cantilever array.

We report the use of a SiNx based gold coated microcantilever array to quantitatively measure the activity and inhibition of a model protease immobilized on its surface. Trypsin was covalently boun...
Identification and evaluation of quantitative trait loci underlying resistance to multiple HG types of soybean cyst nematode in soybean PI 437655

Key message We performed QTL analysis for SCN resistance in PI 437655 in two mapping populations, characterized CNV ofRhg1through whole-genome resequencing and evaluated the effects of QTL pyramiding to enhance resistance.
Biochemical genetic evidence for a third species of Metridium (Coelenterata: Actiniaria)

Systematic relationships within the sea anemone genus Metridium have been problematical for many years. The genus has been considered to consist of a single, highly variable species, M. senile (L.), which has been divided into several somewhat arbitrary morphs. One, the “clonal” morph, is characteristically small, found in shallow water and reproduces both sexually and asexually. Another, the “solitary” morph, may grow very large, is found to great depths and has been thought to reproduce primarily, if not exclusively, sexually. The existence of a second species, M. exilis, described by Hand (1955), has been questioned (Riemann-Zuerneck, 1975). In the present study, the taxonomic status of the morphs and species of Metridium was examined by starch-gel electrophoresis to analyze genic variation at 16 enzyme loci in samples of the two morphs of M. senile and M. exilis collected at 3 locations on the Pacific coast of the USA (Bodega Bay, California; Monterey Bay, California; Puget Sound, Washington) and at 1 location on the Atlantic coast of the USA (Maine). Intrapopulation levels of gene enzyme variation were quite high (P0.95=47.9,, and H=15.1), and some genetic differentiation among geographically separated populations of a single morph was seen, particularly between Atlantic and Pacific coast populations of the clonal M. senile. However, genetic differentiation (D) among pooled populations of M. exilis, clonal M. senile and solitary M. senile was much greater (D=1.14). Thus, the genus Metridium contains not one highly variable species but three distinct species, each with a relatively narrower ecological range and a relatively less variable morphology.
Weathering of Karroo argillite under equatorial conditions

Abstract The mineralogical composition of a soil catena from Karroo argillite (shale) from Bengamisa, in oriental Zaire is reported in relation to the particle size distribution and to the extent of quartz enrichment as a measure of weathering. Chemical properties such as exchangeable Al 3+ and base saturation were strongly influenced by the relief. Of the free citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) iron oxides, less than 5 to 10% were mobile in pH 3 ammonium oxalate. The proportion of aluminum mobilized in the latter was 17 to 44%, whereas only 0.1 to 1% of the SiO 2 was. Feldspars were almost entirely altered by the weathering process and the weathering of mica resulted in increased mica contents in the clay and fine silt fractions and in labile expanded mixed-layer complexes containing mica, vermiculite and montmorillonite. The kaolinite content increased with depth of solum, presumed to reflect degree of soil development.
Plasmonic focusing in rod-sheath heteronanostructures.

This paper describes the fabrication of plasmonic focusing, free-standing rod−sheath hetero-nanostructures based on electrochemical templated synthesis and selective chemical etching. These hetero-nanostructures take advantage of plasmon interference together with field enhancements due to sharp junction structures to function as stand-alone SERS substrates containing Raman hot spots at the interface of the rod and sheath segments. This result is investigated with empirical and theoretical (discrete dipole approximation, DDA) methods, and we show how plasmon interference can be tuned by varying the sheath and rod lengths.
Elastic energy stored in a membrane due to electrostriction

The elastic energy stored in a biological membrane due to electrostrictive deformation is considered, and an expression is derived that relates this energy to the change in membrane capacitance and the electrostatic energy associated with a membrane potential. Based on available evidence it is concluded that electrostriction does not make a significant contribution to the energy stored in a charged membrane system.
Communicating with local publics: a case study of Coca‐Cola's Chinese web site

Purpose – This is a case study of Coca‐Cola's Chinese web site. It aims to examine how Coca‐Cola, the number one brand in the world, is using its web site to communicate with the publics in the world's largest market.Design/methodology/approach – Uses a qualitative text analysis.Findings – Coca‐Cola is practicing a “glocal” strategy, which integrates the ethnocentric and polycentric model in international public relations, to communicate with the Chinese publics through its Chinese web site.Originality/value – This study provides insights for understanding the theory and practice of global corporate public relations.
Alkyl additions to active olefins by tributylgermanium hydride reduction of alkyl halides

Abstract Tri( n -butyl)germanium hydride is a superior reagent for the reductive addition of alkyl halides to active olefins.
Toward a theory for management success: the role of evidence-based management in the retail industry

The purpose of this paper is to weave critical retail success factors into a retail operational model. This research integrates principles of traditional literature review with conceptual analysis and a reflective inquiry of a practitioner. This paper reveals a scarcity in research attempting to entwine success factors into workable models. Consequently, a retail approach towards the principles of evidence-based management is proposed, a new methodology for developing a retail management theory is provided, and an operational model is crafted. While the study provides evidence for the complexity of success in retail, it does not address all success factors such as e-retail, for example. Further, as an emerging theory this paper invites scholars and practitioner to build on its premise towards a comprehensive theory for retail success. To this author’s knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to integrate evidence-based management into retail management. It provides a specific rationale to encourage practitioners to use the principles of evidence-based management in daily operations. It also opens the door for academics to critique and complement this model. As such, it benefits both practitioners and academics.
Extended Segmentation Procedure for Electromagnetic Modeling of the Power Distribution Network

This paper presents an extended version of the segmentation procedure for planar circuit analysis to the electromagnetic modeling of the power distribution network of packages and boards with multiple power and ground planes.
A CT sign: The “disappearing mass” as a clue to the diagnosis of intermittent intestinal intussusception in children

Abstract During the course of evaluation of a child with recurrent abdominal pain, a mass lesion was noted on computed tomography of the abdomen. This mass lesion was not evident within 30 min of the finding. Child was subsequently diagnosed to have intussusception. A “disappearing mass” lesion may therefore be a manifestation of recurrent intussusception.
A microprocessor architecture for digital device implementation

A microprocessor based architecture for the implementation of digital logic devices is presented. The architecture facilitates replacement of portions of the hard-wired logic chains within the device with groups of microinstructions called kernels. Multiple modules of a device may share the processor simplifying interface problems such as buffering, interlocking, and sequencing. This greatly reduces overall package count, power consumption, system complexity, and therefore system debug time and cost while improving system flexibility with the programmable control store. A three dimensional graphics display processor for the Tektronix 4014 terminal, built using Intel 3000-series microprocessor elements, is discussed demonstrating the viability and benefits of this architecture. Such processor elements permit approximately 250,000 twenty microinstruction kernels to be executed in place of hard-wired logic per second.
Properties, Stability, Assay, and Preliminary Pharmacokinetics of the Immunomodulatory l,2-O-Isopropylidene-3-O-3'(N',N'-dimethylamino-n-propyl-D-glucofuranose Hydrochloride

Abstract 1,2-0-Isopropylidene-3-O-3'(N',N'-dimethylamino-n-propyl)-D-g]ucofuranose hydrochloride (I) is a new agent with claimed immunomodulatory action and antiviral activity. Thin-layer chromatographic procedures and identifying tests were developed to separate the drug, its synthetic precursors, and solvolytic products, and were applied to stability studies. It is stable in 0.1 N NaOH at 60° where its acid solvolysis product, 3-O-3'-(N',N'-dimethylamino-n-propyl)-D-glucose is readily degraded. The partition coefficient of I (pK’a = 9.28) between chloroform and plasma was 6.4 ± 0.2 SEM between pH 10.5 and 11.0. Plasma and urine (0.5 ml) adjusted to pH 11.0 were extracted with 10 ml of chloroform and the extract evaporated. The reconstituted residue in 50 μl of benzene, with the diisopropylaminoethyl analog of I as an internal standard, was derivatized with 50 μl of heptafluorobutyric anhydride at 60° for 45 min and was evaporated and reconstituted in 100 μl of benzene to be assayed for I by GLC with electron capture detection with a sensitivity of 5 ng/0.5 ml of biological fluid. The procedure was applied to pharmacokinetics in the dog and a two-compartment body model was observed with a terminal half-life of 103-130 min. At the 40-mg dose, 60-64% was excreted renally unchanged and 20-34% as unidentified metabolities. At the 200-mg dose 82-85% was excreted renally unchanged and 15-17% as unidentified metabolites. The respective renal clearances of I were 135 and 163 ml/min. The respective total clearances of I were 204 and 191 ml/min. These metabolites were apparently unextracted with chloroform from biological fluids at pH 11 and the liquid scintillation counting (LSC) assay of extracted radiolabeled I appeared synonomous with the GLC assay of I in such fluids.
Wave motion in a heavy compressible fluid: Revisited

The effect of the compressibility of the ocean and its role in generating progressive compression-type waves (acoustic-gravity waves) are revisited. Originally, Longuet-Higgins (1950) obtained a solution for the nonlinear interaction of two opposite waves in a compressible fluid, which results in the generation of compression waves. In this paper we extend this solution to include the general interaction of waves of profoundly different wavelengths. We also fully solve the special triad resonance case obtained by Longuet-Higgins (1950).
In vivo measurement of basilar membrane stiffness.

The basilar membrane is the underlying support of the cochlear partition. Its shape is that of a narrow, flat strip, tapering from the apex to the base of the cochlea. In ultrastructural observations in guinea pig the basilar membrane was found to be composed of three layers (Iurato. 1962). A layer of tympanic cells borders scala tympani. A 20 nm basement membrane borders the organ of Corti. In between is a noncellular layer, composed of protein filaments in a cottony ground substance. The filaments run transversely between the osseous spiral lamina and the spiral ligament. Voldnch (1978) observed that when the basilar membrane was deflected with a needle, the form of the deflection was a thin radial depression. This observation and the transverse anatomy suggest that the filaments behave structurally as a set of transverse beams with little longitudinal coupling.
Intraoperative secondary insults during extracranial surgery in children with traumatic brain injury

Data on intraoperative secondary insults in pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) are limited. We examined intraoperative secondary insults during extracranial surgery in children with moderate-severe TBI and polytrauma and their association with postoperative head computed tomography (CT) scans, intracranial pressure (ICP), and therapeutic intensity level (TIL) scores 24 h after surgery. After IRB approval, we reviewed the records of children 20 mmHg), hypoxia (oxygen saturation 45 mmHg), hypocarbia (end-tidal CO2 200 mg/dL), hyperthermia (temperature >38 °C), and hypothermia (temperature <35 °C). Data from 50 surgeries in 42 patients (median age 15.5 years, 25 males) revealed systemic hypotension during 78 %, hypocarbia during 46 %, and hypercarbia during 25 % surgeries. Intracranial hypertension occurred in 64 % and cerebral hypotension in 18 % surgeries with ICP monitoring (11/50). Hyperglycemia occurred during 17 % of the 29 surgeries with glucose monitoring. Cerebral hypotension and hypoxia were associated with postoperative intracranial hypertension (p = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). We did not observe an association between intraoperative secondary insults and postoperative worsening of head CT scan or TIL score. Intraoperative secondary insults were common during extracranial surgery in pediatric TBI. Intraoperative cerebral hypotension and hypoxia were associated with postoperative intracranial hypertension. Strategies to prevent secondary insults during extracranial surgery in TBI are needed.
Structural defects in laser crystallized silicon ribbons and their influence on photovoltaic behaviour

Analysis of structural defects in laser crystallized silicon sheets has been carried out. It is found that (non-equilibrium) defect structure strongly depends on growth parameters such as thermal profiles, ambient gases and the operational laser parameters. Laser crystallization with intense beams can lead to surface defects which are formed by convection flow in the melt (Marangoni effect). Characteristic defects due to various growth ambients are outlined. Influences of ribbon defects on photovoltaic performance are also described. By properly controlling growth conditions, high quality sheets have been grown which yield solar cell efficiency ∼ 13%, and better performance can be predicted based on projected improvements in growth conditions.
Structural and spectroscopic characterization of copper(II) complexes of a new bisamide functionalized imidazole tripod and evidence for the formation of a mononuclear end-on Cu-OOH species.

A new polyimidazole tripod N,N-bis((1-methyl-4-pivalamidoimidazol-2-yl)methyl)-N‘-((1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl)amine (L2) has been synthesized and shown to form intramolecular hydrogen bonds with different axial ligands bonded to Cu(II) in the solid state. The same hydrogen-bonding property of L2 appears responsible for the stabilization of a Cu(II)−OOH species in solution. The crystal structures of L2 and three of its Cu(II) complexes are reported. The [Cu(L2)X]ClO4 complexes, 4−6 (X- = Cl-, OH-, or N3-) have distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries in the solid state and have been characterized further by UV−vis absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The reaction of [Cu(L2)OH](ClO4) (5) with H2O2 and tert-butyl hydroperoxide in methanol generates [Cu(L2)OOH](ClO4) (7) and [Cu(L2)OOtBu](ClO4) (8) which have been characterized by different spectroscopic methods. The compound [Cu(L2)OOtBu]+ displays a band at 395 nm (e = 950 M-1 cm-1) assigned to an alkyl...
CLUES FOR THE COMPOSITION OF RELATIVISTIC MICROQUASAR JETS

We discuss the evidence for proton loading in relativistic jets from microquasars in light of recent constraints on the jet power. We argue that, both in the case of the Cygnus X-1 jet and the entire ensemble of Galactic microquasars, the evidence points towards a significant contribution to the total kinetic energy flux from cold protons. However, as with all other methods of constraining jet composition (except for the singular case of SS 433), a number of alternative, though maybe less plausible, explanations exist. In light of this continued elusiveness of a single slam-dunk argument for proton loading, the best we can hope for is a continuing accumulation of bits of evidence such as these which will, on the whole, form a preponderance of evidence against pure pair jets.
An invariant framework for conducting reproducible computational science

Abstract Computational reproducibility depends on the ability to not only isolate necessary and sufficient computational artifacts but also to preserve those artifacts for later re-execution. Both isolation and preservation present challenges in large part due to the complexity of existing software and systems as well as the implicit dependencies, resource distribution, and shifting compatibility of systems that result over time—all of which conspire to break the reproducibility of an application. Sandboxing is a technique that has been used extensively in OS environments in order to isolate computational artifacts. Several tools were proposed recently that employ sandboxing as a mechanism to ensure reproducibility. However, none of these tools preserve the sandboxed application for re-distribution to a larger scientific community aspects that are equally crucial for ensuring reproducibility as sandboxing itself. In this paper, we describe a framework of combined sandboxing and preservation, which is not only efficient and invariant, but also practical for large-scale reproducibility. We present case studies of complex high-energy physics applications and show how the framework can be useful for sandboxing, preserving, and distributing applications. We report on the completeness, performance, and efficiency of the framework, and suggest possible standardization approaches.
Rational asset pricing bubbles and debt constraints

Rational price bubble arises when the price of an asset exceeds the asset's fundamental value, that is, the present value of future dividend payments. The important result of Santos and Woodford (1997) says that price bubbles can- not exist in equilibrium in the standard dynamic asset pricing model with rational agents facing borrowing constraints as long as assets are in strictly positive sup- ply and the present value of total future resources is finite. This paper explores the possibility of asset price bubbles under endogenous debt constraints induced by limited enforcement of debt repayment. Equilibria with endogenous debt con- straints are prone to have infinite present value of total resources. We show that asset price bubble are likely to exist in such equilibria. Further, we demonstrate that there always exist equilibria with price bubbles on assets in zero supply. We discuss alternative concepts of price bubbles including the speculative bubble.
A biologically motivated partitioning of mortality

For over a century, actuaries and biologists working independently of each other have presented arguments for why total mortality needs to be partitioned into biologically meaningful subcomponents. These mortality partitions tended to overlook genetic diseases that are inherited because the partitions were motivated by a paradigm focused on aging. In this article, we combine and extend the concepts from these disciplines to develop a conceptual partitioning of total mortality into extrinsic and intrinsic causes of death. An extrinsic death is either caused or initiated by something that originates outside the body of an individual, while an intrinsic death is either caused or initiated by processes that originate within the body. It is argued that extrinsic mortality has been a driving force in determining why we die when we do from intrinsic causes of death. This biologically motivated partitioning of mortality provides a useful perspective for researchers interested in comparative mortality analyses, the consequences of population aging, limits to human life expectancy, the progress made by the biomedical sciences against lethal diseases, and demographic models that predict the life expectancy of future populations.
Co-regulated Transcripts Associated to Cooperating eSNPs Define Bi-fan Motifs in Human Gene Networks

Associations between the level of single transcripts and single corresponding genetic variants, expression single nucleotide polymorphisms (eSNPs), have been extensively studied and reported. However, most expression traits are complex, involving the cooperative action of multiple SNPs at different loci affecting multiple genes. Finding these cooperating eSNPs by exhaustive search has proven to be statistically challenging. In this paper we utilized availability of sequencing data with transcriptional profiles in the same cohorts to identify two kinds of usual suspects: eSNPs that alter coding sequences or eSNPs within the span of transcription factors (TFs). We utilize a computational framework for considering triplets, each comprised of a SNP and two associated genes. We examine pairs of triplets with such cooperating source eSNPs that are both associated with the same pair of target genes. We characterize such quartets through their genomic, topological and functional properties. We establish that this regulatory structure of cooperating quartets is frequent in real data, but is rarely observed in permutations. eSNP sources are mostly located on different chromosomes and away from their targets. In the majority of quartets, SNPs affect the expression of the two gene targets independently of one another, suggesting a mutually independent rather than a directionally dependent effect. Furthermore, the directions in which the minor allele count of the SNP affects gene expression within quartets are consistent, so that the two source eSNPs either both have the same effect on the target genes or both affect one gene in the opposite direction to the other. Same-effect eSNPs are observed more often than expected by chance. Cooperating quartets reported here in a human system might correspond to bi-fans, a known network motif of four nodes previously described in model organisms. Overall, our analysis offers insights regarding the fine motif structure of human regulatory networks.