cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Photovoltaic Performance Using an All‐Conjugated Random Copolymer to Tailor Bulk and Interfacial Morphology of the P3HT:ICBA Active Layer

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells are fabricated using active material blends of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) donor, indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA) acceptor, and an all-conjugated random copolymer (RCP) additive. By optimizing RCP loading, power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 20% higher than those of a binary P3HT:ICBA mixture are achieved. The improved device characteristics are rationalized in terms of the differences between the photoactive thin film morphologies. Energy-filtered transmission electron micro­scopy reveals that incorporation of the RCP improves the degree of structural order of the BHJ fibrillar network and increases the extent of microphase separation between P3HT and ICBA. Additionally, a combination of atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates segregation of the RCP at the free interface, leading to a shift in the surface potentials measured by Kelvin probe force microscopy. These changes, both in the bulk morphology and in the interfacial composition/energetics, are correlated to improved carrier collection efficiency due to a reduction of non-geminate recombination, which is measured by charge extraction of photo­generated carriers by linearly increasing voltage.
Stereochemical control of both C-C and C-N axial chirality in the synthesis of chiral N,O-biaryls.

A Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of achiral ynamides is described here. This work demonstrates a unique concept of stereochemical control of both the C−C and C−N axial chirality and provides an approach to the synthesis of chiral N,O-biaryls as well as chiral anilides.
Cardiac and respiratory responses of rainbow trout, bluegills and brown bullhead catfish during rapid hypoxia and recovery under normoxic conditions.

Abstract 1. 1. Heart rate, ventilation rate and routine oxygen consumption were measured in Salmo gairdneri, Lepomis macrochirus and Ictalurus nebulosus during rapid hypoxic stress and recovery under normoxic conditions. 2. 2. Cardiac and respiratory responses during hypoxia were similar to those reported in the literature for teleost fish. 3. 3. Immediate increases in heart rate and ventilation rate occurred in all three species after stress. When the mean heart rate for each species at 1 hr post-stress was compared with its pre-stress rate, differences in recovery patterns were found in all species. 4. 4. During recovery from hypoxia, rapid increases in oxygen consumption above pre-stress levels occurred in S. gairdneri and L. macrochirus. No significant differences between pre-stress and post-stress values were found in I. nebulosus.
Optical radiation produced by 1100 eV He+, He∗, and HeO in various gases

Abstract Optical spectra are observed associated with collisional excitation by He+, He∗, HeO, Penning ionization by He∗, and charge transfer by He+. Metastable He∗ is collisionally excited to higher electron states, producing HeI emission, much more readily than is ground state HeO.
MANAGEMENT OF POSTRENAL AZOTEMIA

Postrenal azotemia is a potentially life-threatening consequence of urinary obstruction. Its most serious consequences include fluid volume deficits, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Immediate therapy should be directed at restoring urine flow, correcting extracellular fluid volume deficits, minimizing the cardiac toxicity of hyperkalemia, and ameliorating the cardiovascular effects of metabolic acidosis. Most patients respond quickly and completely to such therapeutic intervention.
Chemical pathways at a burning surface

The chemical origin of burning rate differences among bulk materials is analyzed by an experimental simulation of the surface reaction zone. The simulation involves high-rate heating of a thin film of compounds displaying low, intermediate and high burn-rates. The simulation is validated by the close match of the burn rates calculated from the Arrhenius constants determined by SMATCH/FTIR spectroscopy and burn-rates measured by combustion of the bulk material at 1 atm. A second microscale pyrolysis technique, T-jump/FTIR spectroscopy, is used to specify chemical details of the simulated burning surface isothermally at high temperature. High burn-rate materials, such as azide polymers, release a large amount of energy in very early reaction steps at the surface. Intermediate burn-rate materials, such as RDX and HMX, initially decompose, by an approximately thermally neutral set of reactions. The high heat release occurs as the products of these initial steps concentrate and react. As a result, the heat release is delayed and divided between the heterogeneous condensed phase and the gas phase. Low regression rate materials, such as isocyanate-cross-linked hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, decompose into clipped fragments of the backbone and little heat is released. In this case, the regression rate is controlled mostly by the rate of desorption of the fragments and not the magnitude and time of the heat release.
Protozoan Habituation Learning after Loss of Macronuclei and Cytoplasm

AN important problem in studying the physiological basis of memory is to determine its location. Protozoa offer the obvious advantage of confining the site(s) to a volume no more than 1 mm3. If nuclei and cytoplasm are removed from them before behavioural testing, the search for any memory trace is further limited.
Experiments with the pressure cooker in drug extraction

Studies of the individual drug extractions were made, and it was concluded that nux vomica tincture, belladonna tincture, hyoscyamus tincture, stramonium tincture, cascara sagrada fluidextract, and wild cherry syrup could be made successfully by the pressure cooker method of extraction. Ipecac fluidextract, ginger fluidextract, and nux vomica fluidextract which would conform to the official standards could not be made by this method. The principal advantage of this method is the fact that there is a considerable saving of time. It was concluded that by the pressure cooker method, tinctures of official quality could be made from the alkaloidal drugs, especially those of the Solonaceae family.
Patients with pediatric obstructive sleep apnea show altered T-cell populations with a dominant TH17 profile.

ObjectiveTo characterize the immunologic changes of the tonsil as they correlate with increasing apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in children.Study DesignProspective immunologic analysis.SettingTertiary care pediatric otolaryngology practice.SubjectsTonsils were collected from 24 children with obstructive sleep apnea, all of whom had undergone polysomnography at an accredited sleep center using scoring determined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2007 scoring manual. Patients were excluded if they had been diagnosed with craniofacial abnormalities, neuromuscular disorders, or immunodeficiency.MethodsSingle-cell suspensions were isolated from tonsils of 13 individuals and stained with fluor-conjugated antibodies and analyzed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Single-cell suspensions from tonsils of 11 additional individuals were incubated 21 hours and subjected to multiplexed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay cytokine analysis.ResultsIn patients with an AHI >5 events/h, there was a statistically ...
The evolution of paired fins

The Archipterygium is Gegenbaur’s most lasting contribution to the study of vertebrate limb evolution. This transformational hypothesis of gill arches to limb girdles, rays to fins, and proposal of a vertebrate fin-limb groundplan, is generally treated as a flawed alternative to the more widely accepted lateral fin-fold hypothesis of vertebrate limb evolution. When compared to the phylogenetic distribution and diversity of fins and limbs, both hypotheses fail. Dermal skeletal lateral folds, spines and keels originate repeatedly in vertebrate evolution, but paired fins with girdles originate at pectoral level and are anteroposteriorly restricted. Pelvic fins emerge later in phylogeny; pectoral and pelvic appendages primitively differ. Endoskeletal girdles never exhibit characteristics of gill arches. The emergent sequence of paired fin evolution depends upon phylogenetic hypotheses within which extant agnathan interrelationships are uncertain; positions of jawless fossil fish along the gnathostome stem are insecure; the fossil data set is patchy. However, certain features of the data set are robust. This has prompted a reconsideration of Gegenbaur’s hypothesized arch-girdle relationship, and an iterative homology between scapulocoracoid and extrabranchial cartilages is suggested. No transformation of arch to girdle is necessarily implied, but some signal of developmental relatedness is predicted.
VHF Doppler Radar Observations of Buoyancy Waves Associated with Thunderstorms

Abstract The Platteville VHF Doppler radar, located on the Colorado piedmont near Platteville, Colorado, continuously measured the vertical wind velocity during a 12-day period in late July and early August 1981. Measurements were made every 2.5 min on the average with range gates centered at 3.3, 5.7, 8.1, 10.5, 12.9, 15.3, 17.7, and 20.1 km above sea level. Periods of active thunderstorms were identified from the PPI maps from the National Weather Service 10 cm weather radar at Limon, Colorado. When no thunderstorm activity was present, the vertical velocity fluctuations were small and erratic. But a few hours after strong thunderstorm activity began, large quasi-sinusoidal wave trains with periods of about 40 min were observed. Power spectra of the vertical velocity time series showed enhancements at all frequencies during thunderstorm activity, but for periods longer than 30 min the enhancements were larger, particularly for the mid-tropospheric range gates from 5.7 to 12.9 km. Some of the implication...
Progress of the conceptual design for the MOBIE imaging spectrograph for the Thirty Meter Telescope

The Multi-Object Broadband Imaging Echellette (MOBIE) is the seeing-limited, wide-field multi-object optical imaging spectrograph planned for first-light operation on the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Following the completion of a feasibility study and requirements review in December 2008, the MOBIE instrument project, based at the University of California Observatories (UCO) on the UC Santa Cruz campus, entered a conceptual design phase. In this paper, we describe the latest developments in the instrument optical design, and progress in the conceptual design of the optomechanical and mechanical elements for the instrument.
Gravure printed paper based substrate for detection of heavy metals using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

A novel paper based surface enhancemed Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate was fabricated by gravure printing single and double layers of silver nanoparticle (NP) ink, with a particle size of ~20-50 nm, as metallization layer on a paper from Mitsubishi (NB-RC3GR120). The capability of the SERS substrate for detection of toxic heavy metal compounds such as mercury sulfide (HgS) was demonstrated. The SERS based response of the printed substrate produced an enhanced Raman signal when compared to target molecules adsorbed on bare paper. An enhancement factor of five orders of magnitude, due to existence of hot spots between NP, was obtained. In addition, the effect of bending of the flexible paper substrate on the intensity of the Raman spectrum was also investigated. An enhancement of 500 % in the intensity of Raman spectra was obtained for a bending of 70°. The SERS based response of the printed substrate is analyzed and presented in this paper.
Influence of Certain Improved Antibiotic Formulations Upon the Course of CRD in a Breeder Flock and Progeny

Abstract THE economic toll of avian diseases caused by pleuropneumonia-like organisms (PPLO) is high. It has been estimated that 46 percent of the flocks in the United States and 50 percent of the flocks in Canada are infected (Crawley and Fahey, 1955). Satisfactory therapeutic measures have not been found. In fact, some of the antibiotics are so innocuous to Mycoplasma that they are incorporated in selective isolation media. Until a practical immunization procedure is developed or a highly effective and versatile therapeutic product becomes available it will be necessary for researchers to continue evaluating new products as they are developed. Before World War II CRD was not recognized as a distinct disease, PPLO had not been etiologically incriminated, and the antibiotics were new on the medical horizon. Treatment of infected sinuses with various chemicals, such as silver nitrate, had been reported with varying degrees of effectiveness. Recently, intrasinusoidal inoculation with antibiotics…
Longitudinal Conceptual Change in Students' Understanding of Thermal Equilibrium: An Examination of the Process of Conceptual Restructuring

This research analyzes students' conceptual change across a semester in an 8th-grade thermodynamics curriculum. Fifty students were interviewed 5 times during their 8th-grade semester and then again preceding their 10th- and 12th-grade years to follow their subsequent progress. The interview questions probed students' understanding of thermodynamics in everyday situations. The analysis of the transcripts first focuses on the full cohort. The analysis then focuses on 2 fairly successful and 2 less successful students in greater detail. Direct quotations provide the primary warrants in the analysis of the 4 case-study students, but the analysis also incorporates 2 new analytical–representational forms to map students' conceptual change trajectories. Ultimately, the results clarify the conceptual change processes through which students' understandings of thermal equilibrium evolve from disjointed sets of context-dependent ideas toward, if not achieving, integrated cohesive perspectives.
Preparing Future Teachers: Taking the Perspective of Diverse Learners through Virtual World Role-Play

This study explored the use of virtual world role-play activities to increase pre-service teachers' sense of teaching efficacy and attitudes toward inclusion. These constructs are also important for teacher identity development since they influence teacher dispositions, effort, professional development and beliefs in intrinsic obligations. The activity was embedded in an undergraduate course for first-year Education majors that focused on supporting diverse learners. Pre-service teachers played the roles of various diverse learners including students with physical, behavioral, socio-economic, emotional and mental challenges. Data were collected at three points during the semester in order to assess changes in efficacy and attitudes. Open ended questions also provided insight into the experience of identity experimentation. Results suggest that perspective taking activities using virtual worlds can provide powerful experiences to support identity development.
An improved method for the preparation of α-actinin from rabbit striated muscle

Abstract A new method has been developed for extracting α-actinin from muscle. Crude α-actinin solution is obtained from a 2 mM Tris-HCl buffer extract of myofibrils at 2° and pH 8.5. This crude extract is then fractionated between 15 and 25% (NH4)2SO4 saturation. The resulting P15–25 fraction differs from previously described conventional α-actinin preparations, which are obtained by room temperature extraction of “myosin-extracted” muscle residue, in three important ways: (1) the 6-S α-actinin species makes up 25–30% of the protein in the P15–25 fraction but only about 4–8% of the protein in the conventional α-actinin extracts; (2) the P15–25 fraction exhibits 4–6 times more specific activity in the ATPase and turbidity assays of α-actinin activity than do conventional α-actinin extracts; and (3) in contrast to the existing descriptions of α-actinin activity, the P15–25 fraction causes the largest percent increase in ATPase activity and turbidity response at 100–125 mM KCl, which is very close to the KCl concentration existing in vivo.
"Serum B12" and the diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency.

Two papers in this issue of the Journal will surely give pause to physicians who by and large have come to expect that a routinely ordered "serum B12" will automatically tell them whether a patient...
Invasive glomus tumor of the nasal cavity

Glomus tumors are neoplasms that occur only rarely in the head and neck. These tumors are usually distinguished by benign growth characteristics. We present a case of a large intranasal glomus tumor which, at presentation, had eroded through the ethmoid roof to involve the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. The patient was treated with primary external-beam radiotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an invasive glomus tumor of the head and neck.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of fluorozirconate glasses

Abstract Recent Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) results concerning the structure and ionic transport properties of heavy metal fluoride glasses based on ZrF 4 and Hf 4 are discussed. Activation energies hindering local ionic motion have been extracted from 19 F spin-lattice relaxation measurements and their dependence on glass composition is presented. Structural aspects of the fluorozirconates as established by NMR methods are also reviewed, including the crystallization behaviour.
Violent Victimization Among America's School Children

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between individual and general environmental characteristics for different age groups of youth and the odds of violent victimization in or around school. Data were taken from three nationally representative, stratified samples of youth in elementary (n = 1,090), junior high (n = 692), and senior high school (n = 813). Interviews were conducted with students in 125 schools around the country. Logistic regression was used to estimate differences between nonvictims and victims. Results suggest that, regardless of age, the risk of victimization is higher for students who think it is impossible to walk away from a fight or confrontation. Individual-level variables are consistently more significant in predicting differences between victims and nonvictims; however, some general environmental variables are important, particularly for younger age groups. Our findings underscore the importance of examining multilevel variables to better understand the victim...
Prediction of Catalytic Residues in Proteins Using a Consensus of Prediction (CoP) Approach

One of the aims of the Protein Structure Initiative (PSI) in the post genome-sequencing era is to elucidate biochemical and biophysical functions of each protein structure. Thus, the development of new methods for a large-scale analysis/annotation of protein functional residues is inevitable. Currently existing methods are not capable to do so due to the lack of automation, availability, and/or poor performance. In our previous work we were able to improve the accuracy of the prediction to ~86%, although the number of false-positives remained high. In this paper we present a fully-automated method for the prediction of catalytic residues in proteins that improves accuracy by reduction of false-positives, and is applicable for a large-scale analysis. Here, catalytic residues are predicted by machine learning approach followed by hierarchical analysis of the predicted residues. The capability of the method was tested on diverse family of hydrolytic enzymes with a/b hydrolase fold with widely differing phylogenetic origins and catalytic functions. The method was executed manually and then fully reproduces automatically. In the manual analysis, in 17 enzymes, the method correctly predicted all 3 residues of the catalytic triad with 3 false-positives out of 282 residues on average. Our method successfully eliminates the number of false-positives, while being applicable for a large-scale analysis of the protein function.
Going virtual with geographic information and scientific visualization

Abstract Four levels of integration methods for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Scientific Visualization (SciVis) are described. They are: rudimentary (minimal data sharing); operational (consistency of data); functional (transparent communication); and merged (comprehensive toolkit). The role of virtual reality and World Wide Web (WWW) developments for geographic visualization are also highlighted.
Twenty years in my fluorine chemistry

Abstract Dr. Umemoto’s research is briefly described and his achievements are chronologically summarized, which include electrophilic perfluoroalkylating agents (FITS), N -fluoropyridinium salts as power and structure-variable electrophilic fluorinating agents and application to battery materials, and O -, S -, Se -, and Te - trifluoromethyled dibenzoheterocyclic onium salts as power-variable electrophilic trifluoromethylating agents.
Nano-plasmon enhancement effect on MWIR light emitting diode performance

Abstract We observed a significant increase in electro luminescence from GaSb based mid-wave infrared (MWIR) LED device through coupling with localized surface plasmon of a single layer Au nano-particles. We fabricated an interband cascade (IC) LED device with nine cascade active/injection layers with InAs/Ga 1− x In x Sb/InAs quantum well (QW) active region. Thin Au plasmon layer of 20 nm thickness is deposited on top anode electrode by e-beam technique, which resulted in 100% increase in light output for 50 μm square mesa device. We also observed a reduction in the device turn on voltage and increase in the apparent black body emission temperature due to nano-structure surface plasmon layer.
Critical Constructivism and Language Teaching: New Wine in New Bottles

The traditional craft of the teacher can be rescued and strengthened by understanding the connection between the content area of the curriculum and how it will be understood by the student. Understanding this connection involves recognizing the cultural pattern of thought (the episteme) that underlies the organization of knowledge in the curriculum unit as well as the phenomenological world of the student. The latter is essential for grasping what the student is likely to understand and how that understanding will be integrated into the student's pattern of thinking. (C.A. Bowers (1984: 78) Constructivism is very much in vogue at the present time. Indeed, constructivism has taken on the force of a slogan in many educational circles – a slogan that, like “student-centered curriculum,” “reflective practice,” and “learning by doing,” has become so commonplace as to inhibit rather than promote clear thinking about teaching and learning. Its popularity has also resulted in something of an intellectual backlash, demonstrated perhaps most clearly in Michael Devitt's assertion that it is “the most dangerous contemporary intellectual tendency” as well as in efforts to link constructivism with other postmodern challenges to science and rationality. (J Language Teaching: 2003 37(1): 120-141)
Sensitivity of Capacity Estimation Results subject to Convective Weather Forecast Errors

In this paper, we investigate the sensitivity of capacity estimation results subject to convective weather forecast errors. Our goal is to examine how throughput estimates vary with different types of weather forecast errors, including time shifting, coverage/intensity, and position shifting. We investigate capacity estimates in both en route airspace and transition airspace for Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) routing scenarios. We consider capacity estimation for a variety of weather forecast look-ahead times, ranging from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
Origin of beading constrictions at the axolemma: Presence in unmyelinated axons and after β,β′-iminodipropionitrile degradation of the cytoskeleton

Abstract Myelinated nerve fibres become beaded when nerves are subjected to a mild stretch; the beading is seen as varicosities, a series of alternating constrictions and enlargements, when using freeze-substitution or cold-fixation to hold this labile form change in place during fixation. One possibility for how this form change comes about is that the myelin sheath or its Schwann cell initiates beading. We now report, however, that a similar beading is seen in the axons of unmyelinated fibres. In electron micrographs, longitudinal sections of axons show the series of constrictions and expansions typical of beading. In cross-sections, axons with unusually small diameter, corresponding to the constrictions, are seen to contain closely packed microtubules and neurofilaments while neighbouring swollen axons with widely dispersed microtubules correspond to the beading expansions. Another possibility for the form change is that the cytoskeleton is responsible for beading. We discovered that direct exposure of nerves to β,β′-iminodipropionitrile in vitro for 1–6 h causes both axonal microtubules and neurofilaments to become degraded and replaced by an amorphous residue. Nevertheless, β,β′-iminodipropionitrile-treated nerves show constrictions in myelinated fibres when stretched. An even greater degree of beading with narrower and longer constrictions appears in some fibres, with the expanded regions having oblate ends giving the appearance of a string of sausages. In cross-sections taken through the constrictions, a greater than usual reduction of axonal area was seen, this was due to the loss of cytoskeletal organelles which would act to limit the degree of constriction. With longer exposure to β,β′-iminodipropionitrile more fibres show complete degeneration of the cytoskeleton and form ovoids typical of Wallerian degeneration. Unmyelinated axons of β,β′-iminodipropionitrile-treated nerves which showed degeneration of their cytoskeleton with its replacement by amorphous material still demonstrated beading. As neither the myelin sheath nor the intact cytoskeleton within the axon is necessary for beading, by exclusion, we consider beading constrictions to be initiated at the level of the axolemma. In our hypothesis the membrane skeleton is responsible; namely, the spectrin, actin and other molecular species lining the inside of the axolemma and binding to transmembrane proteins. The membrane skeleton may be activated by stretch via transmembrane proteins (e.g. β1-integrins). The membrane skeleton mechanism may also be directly engaged in the production of Wallerian degeneration or be induced by neurotoxic agents.
Polymerization of styrene in γ-cyclodextrin channels: Lightly rotaxanated polystyrenes with altered stereosequences

Abstract Modeling of polystyrene (PS) with various stereosequences in γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) channels has been conducted and it was found that only isotactic PS stereoisomers can fit into the γ-CD cavity. Thus, based on the modeling of stereoisomeric polystyrenes in narrow γ-CD channels, it was suggested that PSs with unusual microstructures might be produced via constrained polymerization of styrene monomer in its γ-CD-IC crystals. The in situ polymerization of styrene inside the narrow channels of its γ-CD-IC crystals suspended in aqueous media was performed. Alternatively, the solid-state polymerization of styrene/γ-CD-IC has also been conducted by exposure to γ-radiation. It was found that most host γ-CD molecules slip off during polymerization and the channel structure was not preserved. Consequently, much of the guest styrene monomer polymerizes outside of the host γ-CD channels, where the constrained environment is absent. Yet, a lightly rotaxanated structure has been obtained, where some threaded γ-CD molecules ∼15 wt% (∼1 γ-CD per 70 PS repeat units) are permanently entrapped along the PS chains after polymerization. 13 C NMR spectra of PSs synthesized from styrene/γ-CD-IC and homogeneously in toluene show some differences, which are presumably due to variations in the stereosequences of PSs obtained from the partially constrained polymerization of styrene/γ-CD-IC.
Architectural Implications of Reconfigurable Optical Interconnects

We consider the influence of reconfigurable optical interconnects on computer architecture. A computer is viewed as a sea of interconnected logic gates, in which the interconnects are dynamically reconfigured during operation to suit the computation being performed. We explore reconfiguration at the gate level, at the processing element (PE) level, and at the system level. A significant finding is that the conventional von Neumann model of a digital computer may benefit from the use of reconfigurable interconnects at the gate level by implementing only the most recently used instructions in a function cache. By implementing only a subset of the instructions in a PE at any time, the physical size of the PE can be reduced and performance can be improved. The runtime behavior of programs executing on a uniprocessor is used as evidence that a function cache can be effective. Case studies are also provided for reconfiguration at the gate level and at the system level. The conclusion is made that reconfiguration can improve performance at all levels of the computer hierarchy, provided that the improvement in performance offsets the cost of reconfiguration.
REKLES Is an ARID3-restricted Multifunctional Domain

Bright/Dril1/ARID3a is a B cell-specific, matrix association (or attachment) region-binding transcriptional regulator of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes and of E2F1-dependent cell cycle progression. Bright contains a central DNA binding domain termed ARID (AT-rich interacting domain) and a C-terminal region termed REKLES (for a conserved amino acid motif). The ARID domain has been identified in seven highly conserved families of metazoan proteins (ARID1-5 and JARID1-2), whereas REKLES is found only in the ARID3 subfamily (composed of Bright/ARID3a, Bdp/ARID3b, and Bright-like/ARID3c). REKLES consists of two subdomains: a modestly conserved N-terminal REKLESα and a highly conserved (among ARID3 orthologous proteins) C-terminal REKLESβ. Previously we showed that Bright undergoes nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and that REKLESα and -β were required, respectively, for nuclear import and Crm1-dependent nuclear export. Here we show that Bright further requires REKLESβ for self-association or paralogue association and for nuclear matrix targeting. REK-LES promotes and regulates the extent of Bright multimerization, which occurs in the absence or presence of target DNA and is necessary for specific DNA binding. REKLESβ-mediated interaction of Bright with Bdp, which localizes strictly to the nucleus, traps Bright within the nucleus via neutralization of its nuclear export activity. These results identify REKLES as a multifunctional domain that has co-evolved with and regulates functional properties of the ARID3 DNA binding domain.
Studies on the mode of oxidation of pyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine by aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase

Abstract Enzymic oxidation of the purine isomer pyrazolo(3,4- d )pyrimidine to the xanthine isomer 4,6-dihydroxypyrazolo(3,4- d )pyrimidine is catalyzed by the metalloflavoproteins xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase. The aldehyde oxidase-satalyzed reaction proceeds conventionally, utilizing molecular oxygen as electron acceptor. The xanthine oxidase-catalyzed reaction is anomalous in type, proceeding rapidly in the presence of artificial electron acceptors for the enzyme (phenazine methosulfate, 2, 6-dichlorophenolindophenol, ferricyanide), but extremely slowly with the acceptors molecular oxygen and cytochrome c . Anaerobic incubation of pyrazolo ((3,4- d ) pyrimidine with enzyme results in substrate-induced reduction of the flavin moiety of aldehyde oxidase, but not in reduction of the flavin moiety of xanthine oxidase. The latter observation, together with the anomalous acceptor requirements, support the possibility that the xanthine oxidase-catalyzed reaction occurs by direct electron transfer to an external acceptor, by-passing the internal electrontransport chain of the enzyme.
Photorefractive self-focusing and defocusing as an optical limiter

Focusing and defocusing of laser light has been observed for many years. Kerr type materials exhibit this effect but only for high intensities. We show experimental evidence that photorefractive materials can also produce dramatic focusing and defocusing. Whereas Kerr materials produce this effect for high intensities, photorefractive materials produce these effects independent of intensity indicating that this effect would be ideal for an optical limiter. We compare the characteristics of Kerr and photorefractive materials, discuss the physical models for both materials and present experimental evidence for photorefractive defocusing. Self-focusing and defocusing was observed for any incident polarization although the effect was more pronounced using extraordinary polarized light. In addition, self-focusing or defocusing could be observed depending on the direction of the applied electric field. When the applied field was in the same direction as the crystal spontaneous polarization, focusing was observed. When the applied field was opposite the material spontaneous polarization, the incident laser light was dramatically defocused.
The Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Elevates Cytosolic Calcium Signals by Modulating Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV X protein (HBx) is thought to play an important role in the development of HBV-associated HCC. One fundamental HBx function is elevation of cytosolic calcium signals; this HBx activity has been linked to HBx stimulation of cell proliferation and transcription pathways, as well as HBV replication. Exactly how HBx elevates cytosolic calcium signals is not clear. The studies described here show that HBx stimulates calcium entry into cells, resulting in an increased plateau level of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3)-linked calcium signals. This increased calcium plateau can be inhibited by blocking mitochondrial calcium uptake and store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). Blocking SOCE also reduced HBV replication. Finally, these studies also demonstrate that there is increased mitochondrial calcium uptake in HBx-expressing cells. Cumulatively, these studies suggest that HBx can increase mitochondrial calcium uptake and promote increased SOCE to sustain higher cytosolic calcium and stimulate HBV replication.
Soil-water dynamics and unsaturated storage during snowmelt following wildfire

Many forested watersheds with a substantial fraction of precipitation delivered as snow have the potential for landscape disturbance by wildfire. Little is known about the immediate effects of wildfire on snowmelt and near-surface hydrologic responses, including soil-water storage. Montane systems at the rain-snow transition have soil-water dynamics that are further complicated during the snowmelt period by strong aspect controls on snowmelt and soil thawing. Here we present data from field measurements of snow hydrology and subsurface hydrologic and temperature responses during the first winter and spring after the September 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire in Colorado, USA. Our observations of soil-water content and soil temperature show sharp contrasts in hydrologic and thermal conditions between north- and south-facing slopes. South-facing burned soils were ∼1–2 °C warmer on average than north-facing burned soils and ∼1.5 °C warmer than south-facing unburned soils, which affected soil thawing during the snowmelt period. Soil-water dynamics also differed by aspect: in response to soil thawing, soil-water content increased approximately one month earlier on south-facing burned slopes than on north-facing burned slopes. While aspect and wildfire affect soil-water dynamics during snowmelt, soil-water storage at the end of the snowmelt period reached the value at field capacity for each plot, suggesting that post-snowmelt unsaturated storage was not substantially influenced by aspect in wildfire-affected areas. Our data and analysis indicate that the amount of snowmelt-driven groundwater recharge may be larger in wildfire-impacted areas, especially on south-facing slopes, because of earlier soil thaw and longer durations of soil-water contents above field capacity in those areas.
Budding yeast as a model to study epigenetics

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been, and continues to be, one of the most important model systems for biochemical, genetic, and cytologic study of fundamental cellular processes. Its small genome, short generation time, and ease of genetic manipulation have made yeast an ideal model for both sophisticated mechanistic studies and high-throughput screens. Here we focus on the histone deacetylase Sir2p to demonstrate how studies in yeast have been crucial to our current understanding of epigenetic regulation. We will highlight some of the scientific discoveries pioneered in yeast and also point out the value of this model system for the development and optimization of powerful genetic and biochemical tools.
Assessment of determinants of compliance to twelve health behaviors: psychometric evaluation of the Health Behavior schedule II

The test-retest reliability and content and construct validity of the Health Behavior Schedule II were examined. The Health Behavior Schedule II is a self-report intended to assess 45 potential predictors of compliance for 12 mainstream health practices: (1) eating a healthy diet, (2) exercising regularly, (3) flossing teeth daily, (4) protecting skin from sun, (5) wearing a seat belt, (6) practicing safe sex, (7) wearing a bike safety helmet, (8) not smoking cigarettes, (9) limiting alcohol consumption, (10) taking medication as prescribed, (11) obtaining cervical cancer screen, and (12) breast self-examination. The predictor items of the Health Behavior Schedule II were rationally derived from the Health Compliance Model-II and independently evaluated by three expert judges for content validity. The psychometric status of the Schedule was assessed using a multiethnic sample of 461 college students. 12 stepwise multiple regression analyses yielded 24 items as significant predictors of compliance. The configuration of predictor items varied across the 12 health behaviors with self-efficacy as the only common predictor. Effect size estimates were greatest for cervical cancer screening (R2 = .65) and least for breast self-exams (R2 = .38). Each predictor has implications for compliance enhancement strategies. These findings provide preliminary support for the utility of the questionnaire in assessing potential improvements in health compliance outcomes among young adults.
Regret and Convergence Bounds for a Class of Continuum-Armed Bandit Problems

We consider a class of multi-armed bandit problems where the set of available actions can be mapped to a convex, compact region of Ropfd, sometimes denoted as the ldquocontinuum-armed banditrdquo problem. The paper establishes bounds on the efficiency of any arm-selection procedure under certain conditions on the class of possible underlying reward functions. Both finite-time lower bounds on the growth rate of the regret, as well as asymptotic upper bounds on the rates of convergence of the selected control values to the optimum are derived. We explicitly characterize the dependence of these convergence rates on the minimal rate of variation of the mean reward function in a neighborhood of the optimal control. The bounds can be used to demonstrate the asymptotic optimality of the Kiefer-Wolfowitz method of stochastic approximation with regard to a large class of possible mean reward functions.
Polarization-encoded optical shadow casting: design of a J-K flip-flop

The device architecture and the corresponding codings of the inputs of a polarization-encoded optical shadow-casting J-K flip-flop are presented. Three different flip-flop designs are considered and compared.
On the specification and synthesis of hazard-free asynchronous control circuits

Two related approaches to the specification and synthesis of hazard-free asynchronous control circuits are described. The first approach is based on signal transition graphs (STGs), a type of interpreted Petri nets. The second is based on a subclass of state machines called asynchronous finite state machines (AFSMs). >
Source or sink? The role of soil and water borne inoculum in the dispersal of Phytophthora ramorum in Oregon tanoak forests.

Management of invasive species requires confidence in the detection methods used to assess expanding distributions, as well as an understanding of the dominant modes of spread. Lacking this basic biological information, during early stages of invasion management choices are often driven by available resources and the biology of closely related species. Such has been the case for the management of the phytopathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, causal agent of sudden oak death (SOD) of oaks and tanoaks. To detect P. ramorum, The Oregon SOD eradication program has relied upon the aerial observation of dead, overstory tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus), an easily infected host widely distributed throughout the range of P. ramorum in Oregon. At risk is the possibility of misrepresenting the distribution of SOD, particularly if inoculum is predominately moved in soil and water, common dispersal pathways for other Phytophthora spp. To assess this risk, we performed surveys of understory vegetation in areas with a high risk of establishment of understory infection from soil and water sources: along roadsides within heavily trafficked areas with a history of SOD, and along streams known to contain P. ramorum inoculum. Additionally, we tested the alternative hypothesis of aerial dispersal, whereby infection in the understory would be spatially correlated with overstory mortality. Consistent with prior studies into the spatial structure of P. ramorum in Oregon, we found no evidence of understory infection in close proximity to roads in the absence of overstory mortality. Similarly, P. ramorum was only isolated from understory vegetation associated with streams when within close proximity to overstory sources, and more commonly further away from stream edges than within the splash and flood line. Both disease patterns are inconsistent with a dominate soil and water mediated dispersal mechanism. Rather, we found evidence supporting our alternative hypothesis of aerial dispersal whereby recovery of P. ramorum in the understory declined with increasing distance from the only known overstory source. These results support the use of aerial detection in describing the distribution of SOD in Oregon, and give further support to dispersal of inoculum in blowing fog or rain at scales not yet described for other forest Phytophthora species.
Multidisciplinary Electronic Package Design and Optimization Methodology Based on Genetic Algorithm

A new multidisciplinary design and optimization methodology in electronics packaging is presented. A genetic algorithm combined with multidisciplinary design and multiphysics analysis tools are used to optimize key design parameters. This methodology is developed to improve the electronic package design process by performing multidisciplinary design and optimization at an early design stage. To demonstrate its capability, the methodology is applied to a ball grid array (BGA) package design. Multidisciplinary criteria including thermal, thermal strain, electrical, electromagnetic leakage, and cost are optimized simultaneously. A simplified routability analysis criterion is used as a constraint. The genetic algorithm is used for systematic design optimization. The present methodology can be applied to electronics product design at various packaging levels.
Comparisons of Hospitalization Rates Among Younger Atrial Fibrillation Patients Receiving Different Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Background— Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) are used to reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of atrial fibrillation (AF) events, which should reduce hospitalizations; however, little is known about the associations between different AADs and hospitalization—particularly among younger AF patients without structural heart disease. Methods and Results— Using MarketScan® claims data, we identified AF patients without coronary artery disease or heart failure who received their first AAD prescription (amiodarone, sotalol, dronedarone, or Class Ic) within 14 days post-first AF encounter. The primary outcome was time from first AAD prescription to AF hospitalization, and secondary outcomes included time to cardiovascular and all-cause hospitalizations. We used inverse probability-weighted estimators to adjust for differences in treatment allocation in the Cox proportional hazards model for each outcome. Among 8562 AF patients with a median age of 56 years (interquartile range 49, 61), risk of AF hospitalization was greater with dronedarone than Class Ic (hazard ratio [HR] 1.59; 95% confidence interval 1.13–2.24), amiodarone (HR 2.63; 1.77–3.89), and sotalol (HR 1.72; 1.17–2.54), but lower with amiodarone versus Class Ic (HR 0.68; 0.57–0.80) and sotalol (HR 0.63; 0.53–0.75). Risk of cardiovascular hospitalization was lower with amiodarone than Class Ic (HR 0.80; 0.70–0.92), but not non-AF cardiovascular hospitalization (HR 1.26; 1.01–1.57). There was no difference in all-cause hospitalization between amiodarone, Class Ic, and sotalol. Conclusions— Differences in hospitalization rates were found between AADs in younger AF patients without structural heart disease. Amiodarone had the lowest risk of AF hospitalization and dronedarone had the greatest risk. Additional research is needed to better understand associations between AADs and hospitalization risk.
Common structures in international environmental labelling programs

This paper investigates the principles of international environmental labelling programs. The common structures are determined and differences and similarities are pointed out. The programs are classified into several categories. The advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches are discussed.
A morphological and histochemical study of sertoli cells in normal and XX sex‐reversed mice

Morphological and histochemical studies on the testes of mice with XX sex-reversal demonstrates several profound differences in the ultracytology and oxidative enzyme activity of Sertoli cells as compared to the normal. Membranous structures, cytoplasmic inclusions, and certain dehydrogenases in Sertoli cells of normal mice are described in relation to a possible role in steroid synthesis. In XX sex-reversed mice, two types of Sertoli cells are observed in the seminiferous tubules which are devoid of germ cells. One type is the randomly dispersed cells, which reveal the following ultrastructural alterations when compared with the normal cells: large spherical nuclei with prominent nucleoli, reduced smooth endoplasmic reticulum, pleomorphic mitochondria with no apparent cristae, and decreased lipid droplets. The other type is clustered cells which appear similar to immature Sertoli cells. These cells have small nuclei with poorly developed nucleoli, small profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum, pleomorphic mitochondria, decreased lipid droplets, and an absence of specialized inter-Sertoli cell junctions. The results of this study suggest that functional and ultrastructural alterations of Sertoli cells in XX sex-reversed mice may result from degeneration or absence of germinal cells, and that steroidogenesis by Sertoli cells in mice may be associated with the development of germinal cells. It is also suggested that Sertoli cells may secrete a steroid which controls follicle-stimulating hormone secretion.