cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical Issues for Monitoring Ecological and Natural Resources in the United States

The United States funds a number of national monitoring programs to measure the status and trends of ecological and natural resources. Each of these programs has a unique focus; the scientific objectives are different as are the sample designs. However, individuals and committees, all well aware of the cost of ecological monitoring, have called for more effective monitoring programs. The objective of this paper is to summarize existing programs' statistical designs and discuss potential alternatives for improvement in national monitoring. Can we improve the current situation by providing an overall framework for the design or analysis of data from these disparate surveys? First, the paper summarizes the objectives of these surveys, compares and contrasts their survey designs as currently implemented, and determines what variables they collect. Through this process we identify commonalities and issues that impact our ability to combine information across one or more of the surveys. Three potential alternatives are presented, leading to comprehensive monitoring in the United States.
Using media fusion and domain dimensions to improve precision in medical image retrieval

In this paper, we focus on improving retrieval performance, especially early precision, in the task of solving medical multimodal queries. The queries we deal with consist of a visual component, given as a set of image-examples, and textual annotation, provided as a set of words. The queries' semantic content can be classified along three domain dimensions: anatomy, pathology, and modality. To solve these queries, we interpret their semantic content using both textual and visual data. Medical images often are accompanied by textual annotations, which in turn typically include explicit mention of their image's anatomy or pathology. Annotations rarely include explicit mention of image modality, however. To address this, we use an image's visual features to identify its modality. Our system thereby performs image retrieval by combining purely visual information about an image with information derived from its textual annotations. In order to experimentally evaluate our approach, we performed a set of experiments using the 2009 ImageCLEFmed collection using our integrated system as well as a purely textual retrieval system. Our integrated approach consistently outperformed our text-only system by 43% in MAP and by 71% in precision within the top 5 retrieved documents. We conclude that this improved performance is due to our method of combining visual and textual features.
Las digresiones del lenguaje, mea culpa, fastidium, dubitatio, y carnaval en La Florida del Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.

Aunque mucho se ha escrito sobre los Comentario reales del Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, su cronica sobre la exploracion de Hernando de Soto en el sureste de Norteamerica (1539-43) nunca ha gozado de la misma recepcion. Sea por su supuesta descripcion novelizada de dicha aventura o los lugares lejanos de los centros del poder colonial que recuenta, La Florida nunca ha formado parte del canon colonial. Por eso, este trabajo intenta explorar cinco tipos de digresiones clasicas que el Inca pudo haber empleado para embellecer la obra, impresionar a sus criticos y asi realzar su renombre como uno de los historiadores mas grandes sobre el Nuevo Mundo.
Influence of O.C.T. embedding compound on determinations of estrogen and progestin receptors in breast cancer.

Estrogen receptor (ER) and progestin receptor (PR) concentrations in tumor biopsies are important predictive indicators of a clinical response to endocrine therapy of breast cancer. To assess interference of O.C.T. (optimum cutting temperature) embedding compound in assays of ER and PR by radioligand binding, we determined specific binding capacities and affinities of ER and PR in cytosols by a multipoint titration method, using split samples of 14 breast-tumor biopsies, one portion serving as untreated control, the other treated with O.C.T. There was no statistically significant difference between these two groups. We then compared these data with those of historical controls analyzed both in the presence and absence of sodium molybdate (10 mmol/L). Eighty breast-tumor specimens (mean +/- SD patients' ages, 59 +/- 14 y) embedded in O.C.T. compound and analyzed without molybdate gave ER and PR values that differed insignificantly from those for 306 samples (patients' ages, 61 +/- 14 y) untreated with O.C.T. Thirty-nine specimens (patients' ages, 58 +/- 15 y) embedded in O.C.T. compound were analyzed in the presence of molybdate and compared with the results for 288 specimens (patients' ages, 61 +/- 14 y) untreated with O.C.T. Again, there was an insignificant difference in the concentrations and affinities of receptors in the two groups. Evidently O.C.T. compound does not alter the receptor status of tumor biopsies.
Recent Developments on Self-normalized Limit Theorems

Publisher Summary The normalizing constants in classical limit theorems are usually sequences of real numbers. Moment conditions or other related assumptions are necessary and sufficient for many classical limit theorems. However, the situation becomes very different when the normalizing constants are sequences of random variables. The recent discovery of self-normalized large deviation shows that hardly any moment conditions are needed for such large deviation type results. A self-normalized law of the iterated logarithm remains valid for all distributions in the domain of attraction of a normal or stable law. This reveals that self-normalization preserves essential properties much better than deterministic normalization does. This chapter surveys briefly some recent developments on self-normalized limit theorems as Limit theory plays a fundamental role in the development of probability and statistics.
Vibration testing and analysis of motor based on virtual instrument

Motor is one of important equipments to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy in the modern production, and it plays an important role in modern industrial plants. In this work, virtual instrumentation and vibration analysis are applied to motor to monitor and detect various failures. Data acquisition, recording, cepstrum analysis algorithm based on autoregressive(AR) model and some other algorithms are done by using the LabVIEW programming language. Especially, in view of the electrical characteristics of the vibration signals, a method of power ceptrum analysis based on AR model is put forward. This method can eliminate the “Frequency ambiguity” phenomenon, and rapidly and accurately extract information needed for the spectrum.
Tumor Proximity to the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism Undergoing Parathyroidectomy

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is a rare complication for patients undergoing neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Distances between RLNs and parathyroid adenomas have not been previously published. In this study we used a RLN monitor to identify the RLN and to measure the proximity to parathyroid tumors. Patients with pHPT (n = 136) underwent neck exploration and had the clinical data recorded prospectively. Adenomas were recorded in 1 of 4 locations (right upper, right lower, left upper, left lower). Measurement of RLN to adenoma distances were recorded intraoperatively with the gland in situ. The RLN location was confirmed with a RLN monitor. The average RLN to adenoma distance was 0.52 ± 0.52 cm. Adenomas in the right upper position were significantly closer to the nerve (0.25 ± 0.39 cm) compared with adenomas in the left upper (0.48 ± 0.61 cm, p = .03), left lower (0.70 ± 0.53 cm, p < .001), and right lower position (1.02 ± 0.56 cm, p < .001). Left upper adenomas were also significantly closer to the nerve compared with right lower adenomas (p < .001). Adenomas in the right upper position abutted the nerve more often (47 %) compared with adenomas in other positions (p = .001). There were no perioperative characteristics that predicted tumor abutment. There were no permanent RLN injuries. In patients with sporadic pHPT, parathyroid adenomas in the right upper location have, on average, greater proximity to the RLN and are more often directly abutting compared with adenomas in other locations.
Reactivity of Freshly Formed Fe(III) in Synthetic Solutions and (Pore)Waters: Voltammetric Evidence of an Aging Process

We report a laboratory and field study that demonstrates that soluble Fe(III) complexed to organic ligands exists in sediment porewaters. Synthetic solutions of Fe(III) with the ligand Tris were used to simulate organic complexation of Fe(III) in natural waters. Size fractionation using gel filtration chromatography shows that at least three different molecular mass species coexist. The molecular masses of FeIIIx−Trisy complexes increase with time, suggesting that aggregation occurs in solution. Soluble Fe(III) is detected by voltammetry at a mercury drop electrode when it is complexed by an organic ligand. Depending on the age of Fe(III), two voltammetric waves can be observed: at ca. −0.3 V for “freshly” formed Fe(III) and at a more negative potential for “aged” Fe(III). A mathematical model was successfully developed to assess a mechanism for this aging process. This model involves oxidation and adsorption of Fe(II), aggregation, and precipitation of Fe(III) complexes. The species formed are extremely...
A Cumulus Parameterization Based on the Generalized Convective Available Potential Energy

Abstract This paper reports tests of a cumulus parameterization in which the reference state associated with the generalized convective available potential energy (GCAPE) is chosen as the end-state of the convective adjustment. The GCAPE is defined as the enthalpy difference between the given state and the reference state and represents the total potential energy available for conversion into convective kinetic energy in a given sounding. The reference state is the unique state in which the system enthalpy is minimized; it is also a statically neutral or stable state. By assuming that convection drives the atmosphere from the given state toward the reference state, we can use Nitta's diagnostic method to determine the cloudbase mass flux in a prognostic model. The adjustment timescale is finite and varies, depending on the intensity of the large-scale forcing. so this is a “relaxed” scheme. The effects of detrainment are parameterized in a very simple way. After the cloudbase mass flux has been obtained, ...
Norcembrene diterpenoids from pacific soft-corals of the genus sinularia (Alcyonacea; octocorallia)

Abstract Four new norcembrene diterpenoids, 2–5, have been isolated from several species of the soft-coral Sinularia collected in Palau, Western Caroline Islands. These new compounds are closely related to a unique norcembrenolide, 1, previously reported from the Australian soft-coral Sinularia leotoclados . The structure assignments of these new compounds were provided by interpretation of spectral data, and the structures of norcembrenes 2 and 3 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis.
Pathogenesis of acute infectious hepatitis.

to conclude, acute infectious hepatitis may be viewed as a generalized infection of virus nature which attacks the reticulo-endothelial system — spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow and liver. In cases such as in undernourished soldiers in whom the liver has been depleted of its protein and glycogen stores, there results the characteristic pathologic changes in the liver and associated symptomatology of this disease.
Osteocalcin and the Regulation of Glucose Metabolism

Uncarboxylated osteocalcin enhances insulin and adiponectin release and improves glucose tolerance in mice. Data in humans do not unequivocally support a role for osteocalcin in glucose homeostasis. Changes in the amount of uncarboxylated osteocalcin induced by vitamin K or warfarin treatment are not associated with changes in glucose and insulin concentrations. Interventional studies in humans, designed to detect small changes in insulin secretion and action attributable to changes in uncarboxylated osteocalcin, will be required to reliably detect effects of osteocalcin on glucose metabolism and to better understand its interaction with adiposity and adipokines.
ADP-ribosylation factor is functionally and physically associated with the Golgi complex.

Abstract ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) is a ubiquitous, highly conserved 21-kDa GTP-binding protein, first identified in animal cells as the cofactor required for the in vitro ADP-ribosylation of the stimulatory regulatory subunit of adenylate cyclase, Gs, by cholera toxin. As the relevance of this activity to in vivo function is unknown, we have taken advantage of the conserved nature of ARF to study its function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast cells bearing an arf1 null mutation display a number of phenotypes suggesting a defect in the secretory pathway. Secreted invertase is only partially glycosylated, and there is a small internal accumulation of invertase. Genetic experiments revealed interactions between ARF1 and other genes known to be involved in the secretory pathway, including YPT1, which encodes a different GTP-binding protein. In accord with these genetic results, immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy show that ARF protein is localized to the Golgi apparatus in mammalian cells, in particular to the cytosolic surface of predominantly cis-Golgi membranes. Together, these results indicate that ARF functions in intracellular protein transport to or within the Golgi apparatus, a role not predicted by the previous in vitro biochemical studies.
ADJUSTMENT, INDUSTRIAL LOCATIONAL INCENTIVES AND STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN GHANA

ABSTRACT A number of studies have focused on the Structural Adjustment Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, but just a few have focused on the issue of spatial structural transformation under those programs. This paper focuses on such transformation with respect to Ghana's formal wood processing industry. Using an empirically- based qualitative analysis, the paper utilizes the government's industrial locational incentives under Ghana's program to explore post-adjustment spatial structural transformation involving the location pattern of formal wood processing firms, relative to regional development within the national framework. The extent to which the pre-adjustment geographical distribution pattern of firms, deemed as a structural problem, changed in response to the locational incentives is examined. It is shown that for those firms, adjustment was essentially a program which fashioned export sector rehabilitation, using new financial resources, and not for spatial structural transformation. The pre-adjustme...
Investigating the output monitoring component of event-based prospective memory performance

The goal of this study was to augment the standard event-based prospective memory paradigm with an output monitoring component. That component involves memory for past actions and, in the context of prospective memory, is largely responsible for repetition and omission errors. The modified paradigm also provides an index of what people believe to be true concerning their past prospective memory performance. More elaborate prospective responses decreased forgetting that an intention had been fulfilled, whereas contextual change increased forgetting. In Experiments 1–3, people often reported that they had fulfilled an intention on a previous occasion when they actually had not, but distinctive responses reduced that error in Experiment 4. Therefore, people’s beliefs about their past performance can influence the incidence of repetition and omission errors in event-based prospective memory tasks.
Creating mass signatures for the detection of microRNA

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, and have already been associated with 160+ diseases. With the small sizes of miRNAs (19–25 nt) and the increasing number of human miRNAs (>2000) being reported, the accurate detection of a specific miRNA has continued to be a challenging issue. In this report, a new concept for improving the accuracy of direct mass spectrometric (MS) measurements of miRNAs is introduced. The concept aims at creating a unique signature in the mass spectrum of miRNA. To achieve this goal, one way is to capture a specific miRNA by using a complementary DNA probe. The miRNA is then eluted and digested with a specific endonuclease. The digested miRNA fragments are directly measured by using MS. The multiple peaks that correspond to the digested miRNA fragments are collectively defined as a mass signature of the miRNA being analyzed. Since the peak pattern is dependent on the intrinsic property, i.e. RNA sequence, of a specific miRNA, it is referred to as an intrinsic mass signature. Alternatively, a unique mass signature can be created by incorporating one or more extra nucleotides into the 3′ end of miRNA and the extended miRNA is measured by using MS. The molecular mass of the extended miRNA, which is defined as an extended mass signature, is expected to be different from the other miRNAs within the same sample. In comparison to matching the measured molecular mass of an undigested or unextended miRNA molecule to the expected molecular mass, the two different approaches to create a unique mass signature can improve the accuracy on qualitative MS detection of a specific miRNA.
Electrocardiographic imaging: II. Effect of torso inhomogeneities on noninvasive reconstruction of epicardial potentials, electrograms, and isochrones.

Torso Effects on Reconstructed Epicardial Potentials.Introduction: Noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) involves inverse reconstruction of epicardial potentials, electrograms (EGMs), and isochrones from body surface potential maps (BSPMs). The heart lies in a volume conductor that includes lungs, blood, bone, muscle, and fluid. We investigate the effects of these torso inhomogeneities on reconstructed epicardial potentials, EGMs, and isochrones to address the issue of whether they should be included in clinical ECGI methodology. Methods and Results: Potential data were obtained for different pacing protocols from a dog heart suspended in a human-shaped torso tank. Accurate geometry of torso inhomogeneities was digitized from the Visual Human Project and appropriately introduced into a computer model of the torso. Three models were used: accurate inhomogeneous torso, homogeneous torso, and a torso with stylized lungs (to generate an approximate model). The inhomogeneous model was used to compute BSPMs from the measured epicardial potentials. These BSPMs were the starting point for inverse computations in the different torso models. Epicardial potential maps, EGMs, and isochrones were computed. The homogeneous model produced slightly less accurate epicardial potential reconstructions than the inhomogeneous model and stylized lung model, but epicardial potential patterns, EGMs, isochrones, and locations of pacing sites were reconstructed with comparable accuracy when torso inhomogeneities were ignored. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that, in the clinical application, it is not necessary to include torso inhomogeneities for noninvasive reconstructions of epicardial potentials, EGMs, and activation sequences.
Homeostatic synaptic scaling in self-organizing maps

Various forms of the self-organizing map (SOM) have been proposed as models of cortical development [Choe Y., Miikkulainen R., (2004). Contour integration and segmentation with self-organized lateral connections. Biological Cybernetics, 90, 75-88; Kohonen T., (2001). Self-organizing maps (3rd ed.). Springer; Sirosh J., Miikkulainen R., (1997). Topographic receptive fields and patterned lateral interaction in a self-organizing model of the primary visual cortex. Neural Computation, 9(3), 577-594]. Typically, these models use weight normalization to contain the weight growth associated with Hebbian learning. A more plausible mechanism for controlling the Hebbian process has recently emerged. Turrigiano and Nelson [Turrigiano G.G., Nelson S.B., (2004). Homeostatic plasticity in the developing nervous system. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 5, 97-107] have shown that neurons in the cortex actively maintain an average firing rate by scaling their incoming weights. In this work, it is shown that this type of homeostatic synaptic scaling can replace the common, but unsupported, standard weight normalization. Organized maps still form and the output neurons are able to maintain an unsaturated firing rate, even in the face of large-scale cell proliferation or die-off. In addition, it is shown that in some cases synaptic scaling leads to networks that more accurately reflect the probability distribution of the input data.
Toward β-Amino Acid Proteins: Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of a Fifteen Kilodalton β-Peptide Tetramer

A 28 residue “retro” β-peptide has been designed to self-assemble as a tetramer, successfully recapitulating the octameric β-peptide bundle complex Zwit-1F. Z28, the largest β-peptide synthesized to date, was achieved in a linear, microwave-assisted synthesis in 19% isolated yield and high purity. Z28 forms the expected tetrameric complex and is more stable and cooperative in its folding than Zwit-1F. The successful design and synthesis of Z28 is an important step toward true β-amino acid proteins.
A practical tutorial on refactoring for parallelism

For several decades, programmers have relied on Moore's Law to improve the performance of their software applications. From now on, programmers need to program the multicores if they want to deliver efficient code. In the multicore era, a major maintenance task will be to make sequential programs more parallel. What are the most common transformations to retrofit parallelism into sequential programs? This tutorial equips today's programmers to be ready for tomorrow's task. It presents the process for parallelizing sequential applications and presents several refactorings for (i) making programs thread-safe, (ii) threading sequential applications, and (iii) improving scalability of parallel programs. The tutorial also presents the state of the practice libraries for parallelism in the desktop computing, and helps programmers understand the trade-offs between programmability, scalability, and portability of parallel programs. Participants get hands-on experience on parallelizing realistic applications, and get a preview of the state of the art refactoring tools for parallelism.
OXYGEN UPTAKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE OF MICE AND RABBITS ADMINISTERED "HEMATOPORPHYRIN".

SummaryThe toxicity of several preparations of “hematoporphyrin” has been studied in female ZBC mice and in rabbits. The MLD100 in mice ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 mg per gram body weight depending on source of the porphyrin and route of administration. The intraperitoneal route was generally most toxic. A marked fall in total body oxygen uptake associated with severe hypotension and decreased blood flow occurred at lethal or near-lethal dose levels. In vitro measurement of oxygen uptake by mouse liver homogenates showed no effect at porphyrin concentrations up to 3 × 10-4M (5 mg/gram of liver in a 10% liver homogenate) at pH 7.4 to 8.9 but 50 per cent or more depression at pH 6.5 to 6.6. Associated phenomena and some implications of these results in relation to studies on the modification of radiosensitivity by porphyrins are considered.
System-level modeling of a network switch SoC

We present the modeling of the high-level design of a next generation network switch from the perspective of a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) team within the larger context of a design team consisting of an experienced network switch designer and an experienced VLSI hardware designer. After facilitating the design process, the CAD team observed how designers approach high-level designs, beyond RTL. We motivate the need for CAD support that allows designers to effectively manipulate what we refer to as Memory Visualization Level (MVL) design.
The influence of resistant soybean (PI 227687) foliage and coumestrol on the metabolism of xenobiotics by the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker)

Abstract The metabolic activity toward several xenobiotics was examined in larvae of the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), reared on susceptible (Bragg) or resistant (PI 227687) soybean cultivars. Midgut homogenates from last instar soybean loopers reared on PI 227687 leaves throughout larval life had greater glutathione transferase (1.5-fold) and monooxygenase (2-fold) activity than those reared on Bragg leaves. Minor metabolic differences between larvae fed the two soybean cultivars were observed for NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity and the hydrolysis of p -nitrophenyl acetate, α-naphthyl acetate, and acephate. In contrast, there was no increase in the glutathione transferase activity in last instar larvae fed PI 227687 foliage in a short term (48 hr) feeding regime. Monooxygenase induction was also less than previously observed. In addition, small decreases in p -nitrophenyl acetate and α-naphthyl acetate activities were associated with short term feeding on PI 227687 foliage. The incorporation of coumestrol, an allelochemical associated with insect resistance in PI 227687 foliage, into the larval artificial diet significantly increased glutathione transferase activity. None of the other enzymes assayed were affected by the coumestrol-amended diet. The increase in glutathione transferase activity for larvae fed the coumestrol-amended diet relative to the control diet was similar to that observed when larvae were fed PI 227687 foliage versus Bragg foliage. Results of this study provide further evidence of coumestrol involvement in PI 227687 resistance as well as suggesting that other factors are also involved.
Initial Development of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile

We report on initial development of the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile; a parent questionnaire assessing a child's sensory processing abilities. Parents of 401 typically developing infants and toddlers completed the 81-item questionnaire. Findings suggest that 48 of 81 items best characterized sensory processing for children 7 to 36 months of age, whereas 36 items appeared relevant for children birth to 6 months of age. Principal component analysis for 7 to 36 month olds produced an 8-component structure accounting for 47% of score variance. Reliability analyses were consistent with clusters previously identified in Dunn's model of sensory processing for older children (Dunn, 1997a). Implications for future work include replication with a large national sample and with specific disability groups.
A Computational Approach for Deciphering the Organization of Glycosaminoglycans

US National Institutes of Health (HL56200, HL088672); the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, Inc.
An in vitro model of ethanol-dependent liver cell injury.

Primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes were incubated (6 to 96 hr) with 50 to 150 mmol/L ethanol, 0.5 mmol/L linoleate, 0.5 mmol/L palmitate, 0.5 mmol/L 4-methylpyrazole, 0 to 25 μmol/L vitamin E phosphate or selected combinations of these agents. Agent-dependent changes in liver cell viability (AST release and reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)−2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and function (phospholipid peroxidation, hydrolysis, biosynthesis and triacylglycerol biosynthesis) were determined. The influence of ethanol on liver cell function and viability was dose and incubation time dependent. Short periods (24 hr or less) of exposure to 100 mmol/L ethanol increased liver cell triacylglycerol biosynthesis and phospholipid hydrolysis, peroxidation and biosynthesis without altering cell viability. However, longer periods (72 hr or more) of exposure to 100 or 150 mmol/L ethanol resulted in significant reductions (30 to 50) in cell viability, function and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and content. The ethanol-dependent decreases in cell function and viability were potentiated by linoleate and reduced by vitamin E phosphate, palmitate and 4-methylpyrazole. These results suggest that ethanol-induced liver cell injury in vitro is not a result of ethanol per se, but factors such as acetaldehyde or oxyradicals produced as a consequence of ethanol metabolism. Therefore the incubation of cultured hepatocytes with ethanol may be an appropriate model in vitro for determining the mechanisms by which ethanol intake disrupts liver cell function in vivo. (Hepatology 1994;19:174–182).
Effect of ring substituents on the transketolase-catalyzed conversion of nitroso aromatics to hydroxamic acids

Abstract Transketolase catalyzed the conversion of eight different aromatic C-nitroso compounds into the corresponding N-glycolyl derived hydroxamic acids. Three of the nitroso compounds were also found to be converted in part to the arylhydroxylamines by a reductive process. A correlation was found for the rates of production of these metabolites with the electronegatives of substituent groups that were present on the aromatic ring. The rates of reaction of these substituted nitroso substrates with transketolase and d -fructose-6-phosphate were found to decrease in the order 4-NO2 > 4-CF3 > 3-CF3, unsubstituted > 4-Cl > 4-CH3, 4-phenyl > 4-OC2H5. N,N-Dimethyl-p-nitrosoaniline was not metabolized by transketolase under the conditions employed for the other substrates. Those substrates possessing the strong electron-withdrawing groups 4-NO2, 4-CF3 and 3-CF3 were the only substrates that were found to undergo enzymatic reduction to the hydroxylamines as a competing process. A mechanism was proposed that involves a redox reaction between the nitroso substrate and the enzymatic intermediate “active glycolaldehyde” at the active-site of transketolase.
GMM estimation of a maximum entropy distribution with interval data

We develop a generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator for the distribution of a variable where summary statistics are available only for intervals of the random variable. Without individual data, one cannot calculate the weighting matrix for the GMM estimator. Instead, we propose a simulated weighting matrix based on a first-step consistent estimate. When the functional form of the underlying distribution is unknown, we estimate it using a simple yet flexible maximum entropy density. Our Monte Carlo simulations show that the proposed maximum entropy density is able to approximate various distributions extremely well. The two-step GMM estimator with a simulated weighting matrix improves the efficiency of the one-step GMM considerably. We use this method to estimate the U.S. income distribution and compare these results with those based on the underlying raw income data.
An apparatus for measuring the photosynthesis of intact plants at low temperatures.

Abstract A completely automated apparatus is described for hardiness work which allows one to monitor the photosynthesis of intact plants over a temperature range of 40 °C to −25 ± 0.1 °C and light intensities of up to 4000 fc. The system offers independent temperature control of roots, shoot, and one leaf. The leaf cuvette has been designed to distribute air uniformly over a leaf surface in either an open or closed circuit. Automation and the accuracy of environmental controls afford optimum reproducibility especially for metabolic studies using 14CO2 in the closed system.
External validity of role play assessment of assertive behavior

Forty female subjects, equally divided into high- and low-assertive groups on the basis of self-report data, participated in an assertion-eliciting situation. Half of the subjects were advised that the situation was not real and asked to role play their responses. Half of the subjects were uninformed that the situation was staged (natural behavior condition). High-assertive and low-assertive subjects were significantly different in both their self-report and their behavioral performance. Role play and natural behavior conditions did not differ, nor was the overall multivariate test of interactions significant. The findings indicate that role play assessment was comparable to naturally occurring behavior and provide support for the continued use of role play assessment in social skills research.
A realistic camera model for computer graphics

Most recent rendering research has concentrated on two subproblems: modeling the reflection of light from materials, and calculating the direct and indirect illumination from light sources and other surfaces. Another key component of a rendering system is the camera model. Unfortunately, current camera models are not geometrically or radiometrically correct and thus are not sufficient for synthesizing images from physically-based rendering programs. In this paper we describe a physically-based camera model for computer graphics. More precisely, a physically-based camera model accurately computes the irradiance on the film given the incoming radiance from the scene. In our model a camera is described as a lens system and film backplane. The lens system consists of a sequence of simple lens elements, stops and apertures. The camera simulation module computes the irradiance on the backplane from the scene radiances using distributed ray tracing. This is accomplished by a detailed simulation of the geometry of ray paths through the lens system, and by sampling the lens system such that the radiometry is computed accurately and efficiently. Because even the most complicated lenses have a relatively small number of elements, the simulation only increases the total rendering time slightly. CR
ARACompiler: a prototyping flow and evaluation framework for accelerator-rich architectures

Accelerator-rich architectures (ARAs) provide energy-efficient solutions for domain-specific computing in the age of dark silicon. However, due to the complex interaction between the general-purpose cores, accelerators, customized onchip interconnects, customized memory systems, and operating systems, it has been difficult to get detailed and accurate evaluations and analyses of ARAs on complex real-life benchmarks using the existing full-system simulators. In this paper we develop the ARACompiler, which is a highly automated design flow for prototyping ARAs and performing evaluation on FPGAs. An efficient system software stack is generated automatically to handle resource management and TLB misses.We further provide application programming interfaces (APIs) for users to develop their applications using accelerators. The flow can provide 2.9x to 42.6x evaluation time saving over the full-system simulations.
Marinone and debromomarinone: Antibiotic sesquiterpenoid naphthoquinones of a new structure class from a marine bacterium

Abstract Marinone ( 1 ) and its debromo analog debromomarinone ( 2 ), antibiotic sesquiterpenoid naphthoquinones of a new structure class, have been isolated from the organic extract of the liquid culture of a marine actinomycete, isolate CNB-632. The structures of the new compounds were assigned on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analyses.
New procedure for the use of high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of nucleotides and oligonucleotides

Abstract A method is described which allows the combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of nucleotides and oligonucleotides without compromising the performance of either technique. The essential feature of the method uses 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-isopropanol as an additive to the HPLC mobile phase. This novel additive results in both good HPLC separation and efficient negative ion mode electrospray ionization. The method is demonstrated for oligonucleotides samples such as synthetic homopolymers of thymidine (PolyT), of fragments based on the pBR322 plasmid sequence and analysis of phosphorothioate ester antisense oligonucleotides. The differentiation of phosphorylation states of natural nucleotides as well as nucleotide analogues, such as ziduvodine (AZT), is also demonstrated.
Modification of cardiovascular actions of 2-amino-5,6-dihydroxytetralin by N,N-Di-n-propyl substitution

Effects of dopamine (DA) and the N,N-di-n-propyl derivative of 2-amino-5,6-dihydroxytetralin (dipropyl-A-5,6-DTN) were compared on renal blood flow in phenoxybenzamine pretreated dogs. Equivalent increments in renal blood flow were observed in the dose range of 12–190 nmol (ED 50 of DA, 1.4 × 10 −8 mol; ED 50 of dipropyl-A-5,6-DTN, 1.2 × 10 −8 mol, n = 7. Effects of 47 nmol of DA and dipropyl-A-5,6-DTN were reduced equally by simultaneous injections of 0.5 mg sulpiride (76±4 and 59±6%, respectively, n = 5). Intravenous injections of dipropyl-A-5,6-DTN in doses of 4–16 μg/kg elevated arterial blood pressure and decreased heart rate and cardiac contractility in open chest, vagotomized dogs, confirming its neuronal inhibitory effect mediated by DA 2 -presynaptic receptors. Dipropyl-A-5,6-DTN also caused dose-related femoral artery vasoconstriction in the hexamethonium pretreated dog. The hypertensive effect of intravenous dipropyl-A-5,6-DTN and its femoral vasoconstrictor effect were abolished by phenoxybenzamine. These results show that dipropyl-A-5,6-DTN possesses DA 1 -, DA 2 - and α-adrenergic activities. It is significant that by introducing di-n-propyl substitution on the nitrogen of 5,6-dihydroxy-2-aminotetralin, potent DA 1 -agonist activity can be conferred upon a molecule which is inactive in that respect. Further, s-adrenergic activity of the primary amine is replaced by potent α-adrenergic activity by this substitution.
Temperature dependence of threshold current in a 1.3 /spl mu/m InGaAsN VCSEL: theory and experiment

Summary form only given. This paper describes an experimental and theoretical investigation of the dependence of threshold current on temperature for an InGaAsN/GaAs MQW VCSEL operating at 1.3 /spl mu/m and in the temperature range of 270 K to 350 K.
Investigating the first-cycle irreversibility of lithium metal oxide cathodes for Li batteries

Layered lithium metal oxide cathodes typically exhibit irreversibility during the first cycle in lithium cells when cycled in conventional voltage ranges (e.g., 3–4.3 V vs. Li+/Li). In this work, we have studied the first-cycle irreversibility of lithium cells containing various layered cathode materials using galvanostatic cycling and in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. When cycled between 3.0 and 4.3 V vs. Li+/Li, the cells containing LiCoO2, LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2, and Li1.048(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.952O2 as cathodes showed initial coulombic efficiencies of 98.0, 87.0, and 88.6%, respectively, at relatively slow current (8 mA/g). However, the “lost capacity” could be completely recovered by discharging the cells to low voltages (<2 V vs. Li+/Li). During this deep discharge, the same cells exhibited voltage plateaus at 1.17, 1.81, and 1.47 V, respectively, which is believed to be associated with formation of a Li2MO2-like phase (M = Ni, Co, Mn) on the oxide particle surface due to very sluggish lithium diffusion in LieMO2 with e → 1 (i.e., near the end of discharge). The voltage relaxation curve and in situ X-ray diffraction patterns, obtained from a Li/Li1.048(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.952O2 cell, showed that the oxide cathode reversibly returned to its original state [i.e., Li1.048(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.952O2] during relaxation following the deep discharge to achieve 100% cycle efficiency.
Interpersonal Expectancies and Preferences for Various Types of Social Behaviours of Depressed Outpatients

Depressed and nondepressed outpatients and normal controls were compared on two questionnaires that assessed interpersonal expectancies and subjects' preferences for engaging in various types of social behaviours. Depressed subjects expressed more negative expectancies than the two control groups regarding the future behaviour of intimates, generalized others, and the operation of fate in their lives. Depressed subjects also indicated stronger preferences for assuming subordinate social roles with intimates and with generalized others. A number of significant correlations indicate that negative interpersonal expectancies are associated with preferences for passive, solitary and subordinate social behaviours.
Efficient clustering of high-dimensional data sets with application to reference matching

important problems involve clustering large datasets. Although naive implementations of clustering are computa- tionally expensive, there are established ecient techniques for clustering when the dataset has either (1) a limited num- ber of clusters, (2) a low feature dimensionality, or (3) a small number of data points. However, there has been much less work on methods of eciently clustering datasets that are large in all three ways at once|for example, having millions of data points that exist in many thousands of di- mensions representing many thousands of clusters. We present a new technique for clustering these large, high- dimensional datasets. The key idea involves using a cheap, approximate distance measure to eciently divide the data into overlapping subsets we call canopies .T hen cluster- ing is performed by measuring exact distances only between points that occur in a common canopy. Using canopies, large clustering problems that were formerly impossible become practical. Under reasonable assumptions about the cheap distance metric, this reduction in computational cost comes without any loss in clustering accuracy. Canopies can be applied to many domains and used with a variety of cluster- ing approaches, including Greedy Agglomerative Clustering, K-means and Expectation-Maximization. We present ex- perimental results on grouping bibliographic citations from the reference sections of research papers. Here the canopy approach reduces computation time over a traditional clus- tering approach by more than an order of magnitude and decreases error in comparison to a previously used algorithm by 25%.
Neurally mediated syncope and syncope due to autonomic failure: differences and similarities.

Syncope is a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by a global reduction of blood flow to the brain. Abnormalities in autonomic cardiovascular control can impair blood supply to the brain and produce syncope in two different disorders: autonomic failure and neurally mediated syncope. In autonomic failure, sympathetic efferent activity is chronically impaired so that vasoconstriction is deficient, upon standing blood pressure always falls (i.e., orthostatic hypotension), and syncope or presyncope occurs. Conversely, in neurally mediated syncope, the failure of sympathetic efferent vasoconstrictor traffic (and hypotension) occurs episodically and in response to a trigger. Between syncopal episodes, patients with neurally mediated syncope have normal blood pressure and orthostatic tolerance. This article reviews the characteristics of autonomic failure and describes in more detail the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neurally mediated syncope.
Infrared absorption of n-type tensile-strained Ge-on-Si

We analyze the IR absorption of tensile-strained, n-type Ge for Si-compatible laser applications. A strong intervalley scattering from the indirect L valleys to the direct Γ valley in n+ Ge-on-Si is reported for the first time to our knowledge. The intervalley absorption edge is in good agreement with the theoretical value. On the other hand, we found that the classical λ2-dependent Drude model of intravalley free-carrier absorption (FCA) breaks down at λ<15 μm. A first-principle model has to be employed to reach a good agreement with the experimental data. The intravalley FCA loss is determined to be <20 cm(-1) for n=4×10(19) cm(-3) at λ=1.5-1.7 μm, an order lower than the results from Drude model. The strong L→Γ intervalley scattering favors electronic occupation of the direct Γ valley, thereby enhancing optical gain from the direct gap transition of Ge, while the low intravalley free-electron absorption at lasing wavelengths leads to low optical losses. These two factors explain why the first electrically pumped Ge-on-Si laser achieved a higher net gain than the theoretical prediction using λ2-dependent free-carrier losses of bulk Ge and indicate the great potential for further improvement of Ge-on-Si lasers.
Cross-Cultural Differences in Core Concepts of Humans as a Biological Species

An intuition that has been identified as a core concept in folkbiological thought (i.e., intuitive notions about the biological world) is the tendency to view humans as one biological species among many. Previous research has shown that in a category-based induction task, children tend to privilege humans as a basis for inferring that multiple species possess similar biological properties, but that culture and experience can affect the development of these anthropocentric tendencies. It has been assumed that anthropocentrism disappears before adulthood, though very little research has been conducted to test this assumption. In the present research, adults studying oriental medicine, western biology, or western psychology completed a category-based induction task as well as a ‘human patient’ task designed to measure cultural differences in concepts of biological processes. The results showed that anthropocentric reasoning still occurs in adulthood and that there are cultural differences in the likelihood to exhibit these tendencies.
Distributed algorithms for multi-robot systems

This demonstration showcases distributed algorithms for configuration control in multi-robot systems. These algorithms include examples of gradient communication, clustering and dispersion, group motion, and network characterization. The algorithms are demonstrated on a swarm of 15 mobile robots.
Control of Presynaptic Function by a Persistent Na+ Current

Little is known about ion channels that regulate the graded, subthreshold properties of nerve terminals. Using the calyx of Held, we demonstrate here a large presynaptic persistent Na(+) current with unusually hyperpolarized activation voltage. This feature allowed the current to determine both the resting potential and resting conductance of the nerve terminal. Calyces express presynaptic glycine receptors whose activation depolarizes the synapse. We found that activation of the persistent Na(+) current was an essential component in the response to glycine. This Na(+) current originated at or very close to the terminal and was sustained even after trains of large spike-like depolarizations. Because Na(+) channels also underlie the presynaptic action potential, we conclude that their action both triggers and modulates exocytosis through control of presynaptic membrane voltage.