cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some insight into the influence of urban ground surface properties on the air-surface exchange of total gaseous mercury

Abstract Experiments utilizing meteorologically normalized sampling conditions were used to illustrate the role and function of urban pavement, bare soil and turf grass surface properties with respect to the air-surface exchange of total gaseous Hg (TGM). After ensuring uniform meteorological effects to each surface, resultant TGM fluxes from turf grass, bare soil and pavement were specifically representative of their diverse physical and biogeochemical properties. Results spanning the entire sampling year show distinct TGM flux signatures for each surface (5.69 ± 5.79 (ng/m 2 h) for bare soil, 0.53 ± 1.25 for turf grass, 0.26 ± 0.41 for pavement). Based on medians, the surface limitations of pavement decreased TGM flux by a factor of 22 compared to bare soil and by a factor of 2 compared to turf grass. Turf surface limitations decreased TGM flux by a factor of 11 compared to bare soil. By comparing these results to a parallel study, meteorological effects were found to develop 24% of the TGM flux signature for pavement, 53% for turf and 60% for bare soil. The remaining percentage contributions to each TGM flux signature were from the cumulative surface property effects of each surface. These results suggest that the greater the TGM flux magnitude for a particular surface, the more measurements are needed under a wide variety of meteorological conditions to develop a broad understanding of its TGM flux characteristics. Seasonal observation allowed closer investigation of a large shift to TGM deposition for the turf surface during the fall season. The large shift toward deposition was suspected to be linked to the formation of a thatch layer on the unexposed soil surface just beneath the turf layer.
Growth of Crossed ZnO Nanorod Networks Induced by Polar Substrate Surface

We show that by controlling the growth conditions, the crossed networks of ZnO nanorods were grown on an MgO (001) substrate. The [0001] ZnO nanorods grow along the ⟨111⟩ directions of MgO substrate and form aligned arrays. This growth is a result of polar surface induced growth from both the MgO {111} and ZnO ± (0001). The crossed ZnO nanorod networks are a potential candidate for field emission, optoelectronics, ultrasensitive sensing, catalysts and filtering.
Comprehensive Analysis of Phosphorylated Proteins of Escherichia coli Ribosomes

Phosphorylation of bacterial ribosomal proteins has been known for decades; however, there is still very limited information available on specific locations of the phosphorylation sites in ribosomal proteins and the role they might play in protein synthesis. In this study, we have mapped the specific phosphorylation sites in 24 Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins by tandem mass spectrometry. Detection of phosphorylation was achieved by either phosphorylation specific visualization techniques, ProQ staining, and antibodies for phospho-Ser, Thr, and Tyr; or by mass spectrometry equipped with a capability to detect addition and loss of the phosphate moiety. Enrichment by immobilized metal affinity and/or strong cation exchange chromatography was used to improve the success of detection of the low abundance phosphopeptides. We found the small subunit (30S) proteins S3, S4, S5, S7, S11, S12, S13, S18, and S21 and the large subunit (50S) proteins L1, L2, L3, L5, L6, L7/L12, L13, L14, L16, L18, L19, L21, L22, L28, and L31 to be phosphorylated at one or more residues. Potential roles for each specific site in ribosome function were deduced through careful evaluation of the given phosphorylation sites in 3D-crystal structure models of ribosomes and the previous mutational studies of E. coli ribosomal proteins.
Chiral discrimination and writhe-dependent relaxation mechanism of human topoisomerase IIα.

Type IIA topoisomerases (Topo IIA) are essential enzymes that relax DNA supercoils and remove links joining replicated chromosomes. Human topoisomerase IIα (htopo IIα), one of two human isoforms, preferentially relaxes positive supercoils, a feature shared with Escherichia coli topoisomerase IV (Topo IV). The mechanistic basis of this chiral discrimination remains unresolved. To address this important issue, we measured the relaxation of individual supercoiled and “braided” DNA molecules by htopo IIα using a magnetic tweezers-based single-molecule assay. Our study confirmed the chiral discrimination activity of htopo IIα and revealed that the strand passage rate depends on DNA twist, tension on the DNA, and the C-terminal domain (CTD). Similar to Topo IV, chiral discrimination by htopo IIα results from chiral interactions of the CTDs with DNA writhe. In contrast to Topo IV, however, these interactions lead to chiral differences in relaxation rate rather than processivity. Increasing tension or twist disrupts the CTD-DNA interactions with a subsequent loss of chiral discrimination. Together, these results suggest that transfer segment (T-segment) capture is the rate-limiting step in the strand passage cycle. We propose a model for T-segment capture that provides a mechanistic basis for chiral discrimination and provides a coherent explanation for the effects of DNA twist and tension on eukaryotic type IIA topoisomerases.
Promoting Strengths, Prevention, Empowerment, and Community Change Through Organizational Development: Lessons for Research, Theory, and Practice

SPEC Learning and Changing by Doing is a three-year, action research, and organizational change project designed to ultimately promote social justice and well-being in the community. SPEC is an acronym that stands for Strengths, Prevention, Empowerment, and Community Change. The project consists of five organizations tackling internal organizational change in order to better promote justice and well-being in their respective constituencies. In this article we present a formative evaluation of this multicase study of organizational change in human services. This article contributes to the empirical and theoretical literature on organizational change in the nonprofit human service milieu.
SPARC antagonizes the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on the igration of bovine aortic endothelial cells

Migration of endothelial cells is requisite to wound repair and angiogenesis. Since the glycoprotein SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is associated with remodeling, cellular migration, and angiogenesis in vitro, we questioned whether SPARC might influence the motility of endothelial cells. In this study we show that, in the absence of serum, exogenous SPARC inhibits the migration of bovine aortic endothelial cells induced by bFGF. Similar results were obtained from two different assays, in which cell migration was measured in a Boyden chamber and in monolayer culture after an experimental wound. Without bFGF, the migration of endothelial cells was unaffected by SPARC. The inhibitory effect of SPARC on cell motility was dose-dependent, required the presence of Ca2+, was mimicked by synthetic peptides from the N- and C-terminal Ca2+-binding domains of the protein, and was not seen in the presence of serum. Modulation of the activities of secreted and cell-associated proteases, including plasminogen activators and metalloproteinases, appeared not to be responsible for the effects that we observed on the motility of endothelial cells. Moreover, a molecular interaction between SPARC and bFGF was not detected, and SPARC did not interfere with the binding of bFGF to high-affinity receptors on endothelial cells. Finally, in culture medium that contained serum, SPARC inhibited the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into newly synthesized DNA, both in the absence and presence of bFGF. However, DNA synthesis was not affected by SPARC when the cells were plated on gelatin or fibronectin in serum-free medium. We propose that the combined action of a serum factor and SPARC regulates both endothelial cell proliferation and migration and coordinates these events during morphogenetic processes such as wound repair and angiogenesis.
MAGNETOREFLECTION IN BISMUTH

Direct interband transitions have been observed in the infrared magnetoreflection of single-crystal bismuth at low temperatures. They are manifested by oscillations which are almost periodic in $\frac{1}{H}$. Analysis in terms of a two-band model yields the energy gap, ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{g}=0.015\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002$ eV, and also the cyclotron masses at the bottom of the conduction band for two orientations of the magnetic field with respect to the crystallographic axes. Within the resolution of the instrument, the $g$ factors of the conduction and valence bands are equal.
Tetraethylammonium blockade of calcium-activated potassium channels in clonal anterior pituitary cells.

The effects of extracellular and intracellular tetraethylammonium (TEA) ions on single Ca2+-activated K+ channels were studied in excised membrane patches from the anterior pituitary clone AtT-20/D16-16 with the patch-clamp technique. The presence of TEA on either surface of the membrane resulted in a decrease in the single-channel current. Dissociation constants at zero voltage for the TEA-receptor complex were calculated to be 52.2 mM and 0.08 mM for external and internal TEA, respectively. The high sensitivity of AtT-20/D16-16 celsl to internal TEA is of considerable interest, since in other preparations, the greater TEA sensitivity for Ca2+-activated K+ channels has thus far been found to occur on the external membrane surface. Hill plot analysis of the dose-response data yielded a slope of 0.92, indicating a one-to-one stoichiometry for TEA-receptor binding. The blockade by TEA showed little voltage or current sensitivity over the membrane potential range studied, and could be fully reversed by washout in drug-free solution. The results suggest the presence of TEA receptors on both the external and internal membrane surfaces but with different binding affinities. Occupancy of either site by TEA leads to an apparent decrease in the single-channel conductance of Ca2+-activated K+ channels.
QUANTUM OSCILLATION WAVEFORMS.

Abstract Quantum oscillation waveforms have been observed in an ellipsoidally-shaped, high purity beryllium sample. The theoretical prediction of a close relationship between ∂ M /∂ H oscillation waveforms and transport property waveforms is not confirmed.
A Multi-level Funneling Approach to Data Provenance Reconstruction

When data are retrieved from a file storage system or the Internet, is there information about their provenance (i.e., their origin or history)? It is possible that data could have been copied from another source and then transformed. Often, provenance is not readily available for data sets created in the past. Solving such a problem is the motivation behind the 2014 Provenance Reconstruction Challenge. This challenge is aimed at recovering lost provenance for two data sets: one data set (WikiNews articles) in which a list of possible sources has been provided, and another data set (files from GitHub repositories) in which the file sources are not provided. To address this challenge, we present a multi-level funneling approach to provenance reconstruction, a technique that incorporates text processing techniques from different disciplines to approximate the provenance of a given data set. We built three prototypes using this technique and evaluated them using precision and recall metrics. Our preliminary results indicate that our technique is capable of reconstructing some of the lost provenance.
Comparison of the Livermore microwave FEL results at ELF with 2D numerical simulation

The experimental results of the ELF microwave free-electron laser experiment are compared with 2D numerical simulations using the LLNL code FRED. The data comprises (1) microwave power vs. wiggler magnetic field at fixed wiggler length, (2) microwave power vs. wiggler length at fixed wiggler field, and (3) relative power in the two waveguide modes that couple strongly to the electrons, vs. wiggler length. The code evolves the electrons' energies and ponderomotive phases according to the averaged single-particle equations derived by Kroll, Morton, and Rosenbluth, and the fields according to the paraxial wave equation with the source term as derived by Colson. The particle motion is fully three-dimensional. The field solver is two-dimensional, but because only the lowest mode is excited in the short waveguide dimension, the code is accurately three-dimensional for microwave simulations. Longitudinal space-charge forces reduce the gain and increase the synchrotron period of the electrons (after saturation of the amplifier) by roughly 20%. Space-charge forces have been included in the code approximately (so that the running time of the code is not significantly increased), and bring experiment and theory into excellent agreement. The approximation used to add space-charge forces is described. 12 refs., 5 figs.
Assessing QoE of on-demand TCP video streams in real time

Real-time stream quality assessment can assist network operators, content providers, streaming servers, and ISPs in evaluating their customers' quality of experience (QoE), and can lead to better design of streaming protocols, computer networks, and content delivery systems. In previous work, we demonstrated that objective data collected from an instrumented media player application can be used to predict video QoE of UDP streams with a high degree of accuracy and without the inherent scalability and interpretation issues of subjective ratings. In this paper, we extend our previous work to consider real time QoE assessment of TCP video streams, using as little as 15 seconds worth of data. By examining two video-on-demand scenarios and a general video scenario in which content changes rapidly, we find that we can accurately assign user quality ratings between 75 and 87% of the time using objective application-layer measurements from TCP video streams, such as bandwidth and frame rate, and that various combinations of stream state measurements produce accurate ratings in this range. We discuss the implications of these findings on the design of a real time video QoE assessment system.1
Rare earth acetylacetonates: New preparative methods and new complexes

Abstract New preparative methods have been developed and used to prepare several new rare earth acetylacetonate complexes. Crystalline forms of anhydrous neodymium and europium trisacetylacetonate and amorphous forms of anhydrous lanthanum, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium and terbium trisacetylacetonates are reported. Monobasic derivatives of the neodymium and europium complexes were also prepared. Spectral, physical and chemical properties of the complexes are described. Marked differences in the properties of the crystalline and amorphous anhydrous compounds were observed.
Families' Schemata of Social Relationships

Variation in views of the social environment held jointly by members of family units was examined from a theoretical perspective that specifies distinct kinds of variation among families in their beliefs about the fundamental nature of the social world. Associations compatible with theory were found between direct measures of family interaction and families' schemata of social relationships as assessed by using a felt figure technique. Additional evidence indicated that variation among families in the schemata displayed resulted from similar contributions by all individuals in a family studied. Findings support the existence of family social schemata — a family group's set of views about the organization of relationships in the social world — and indicate several dimensions by which these schemata vary from family to family.
Metal Toxicity at the Synapse: Presynaptic, Postsynaptic, and Long-Term Effects

Metal neurotoxicity is a global health concern. This paper summarizes the evidence for metal interactions with synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. Presynaptically metal ions modulate neurotransmitter release through their interaction with synaptic vesicles, ion channels, and the metabolism of neurotransmitters (NT). Many metals (e.g., Pb2+, Cd2+, and Hg+) also interact with intracellular signaling pathways. Postsynaptically, processes associated with the binding of NT to their receptors, activation of channels, and degradation of NT are altered by metals. Zn2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Li3+, Hg+, and methylmercury modulate NMDA, AMPA/kainate, and/or GABA receptors activity. Al3+, Pb2+, Cd2+, and As2O3 also impair synaptic plasticity by targeting molecules such as CaM, PKC, and NOS as well as the transcription machinery involved in the maintenance of synaptic plasticity. The multiple effects of metals might occur simultaneously and are based on the specific metal species, metal concentrations, and the types of neurons involved.
Opinion Change as a Function of Communication-Attitude Discrepancy:

These experiments were designed to ascertain the relation between extent of change of opinions and the degree of discrepancy. A curvilinear relation was observed in questionnaire data from 107 Ss, i.e., smaller and larger discrepancies had less effect than medium size discrepancies for communications on several different issues and on judgments of autokinetic movement.
Case studies of two projects pertaining to information technology and assistive devices

We examine the introduction of engineering design to high school and first-year college students via real community service-learning projects (CSLP). CSLP was chosen because the goal in the course is two-fold: (1) to introduce students to basic engineering principles and (2) to provide them with the opportunity to see the application of such concepts in society. CSLP aims to simulate a design environment in which students with limited technical backgrounds and diverse interests strive to develop viable solutions to actual problems while developing professional skills through client interaction. We provide a detailed discussion on two long-term projects, with approximately 210 student participants, applied both in the high-school and first-year college setting affiliated with the Wildlife Conservation Society and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, respectively, pertaining to information technology and assistive devices. This approach has been successful in implementation and sustainability. Client satisfaction with the results has lead to the beginning implementation stages. High-school student experiences has led to an increased interest in the pursuit of higher engineering education while first-year college evaluations indicate most felt a renewed interest about their intended major. Future improvements to facilitate sustainability of this program include smoothening the transition process between teams.
Longitudinal Change and Maternal Influence on Occupational Aspirations of Gifted Female American and German Adolescents

This study assessed 43 gifted adolescent females in the United States and Germany over a 4-year period (in 7th or 8th grade and again during the 11th or 12th grade). Factors that were examined included the daughter's career selection, the prestige level and the education required to pursue that career, and the impact of the mother's gender role attitudes on these factors. Both American and German girls remained consistent in their career selections over time and selected moderately prestigious careers. German girls, as compared to American, selected less traditional female occupations and careers that require more educational training. Giftedness, cultural differences, and the implications for career counseling of gifted adolescent females are addressed.
Incorporating L‐Ascorbyl 6‐Palmitate in Bread and Its Shortening‐Sparing and Anti‐Firming Effects

L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate (AP) was conveniently incorporated in bread dough by gently premixing AP in vegetable oil or shortening, adding the premix with the remaining ingredients and mixing the dough at conventional speeds. Alternatively, high-speed mixing of AP with formula flour or water also gave fully functional AP in bread doughs as evidenced by complete shortening replacement at 0.38% AP (based on flour weight) and by the absence of dark specks on the crust of bread. Compared to a mixture of 0.38% AP and 3% shortening or a mixture of 0.5% monodiglycerides and 3% shortening, AP alone at 0.38% in bread gave softer crumb after 1 to 5 days storage at 25°C. Sodium stearoyl 2-lactylate (SSL) at 0.38% gave the same softening effect as AP. In no-shortening loaves, 0.38% AP gave better grain than 0.75% L-ascorbyl 6-octanoate or 0.50% L-ascorbyl 6-dodecanoate.
REGIONAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE ALPHA 8 INTEGRIN SUBUNIT IN DEVELOPING AND ADULT RAT BRAIN SUGGESTS A ROLE IN SYNAPTIC FUNCTION

Integrins are heterodimeric cell adhesion molecules comprised of alpha and beta subunits that have been implicated in the regulation of neuronal migration, differentiation, and process outgrowth. They mediate both cell-extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions. The integrin alpha 8 beta 1 is a receptor for fibronectin, tenascin, and vitronectin that has been localized to axonal tracts and several types of non-neuronal cells in chick embryos and to smooth muscle cells in adult mammalian tissues. In this report, we describe the distribution of the alpha 8 subunit in the developing and adult mammalian brain. By light microscopy, alpha 8 labeling in the rat brain was found predominantly in neurons. It was primarily localized within perikarya and dendrites, but was also observed in certain fiber tracts. alpha 8 immunoreactivity was most concentrated in the olfactory bulb, hippocampal formation, substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and superior olivary complex, but was also found at moderate levels in several regions including layer 5 of the cerebral cortex. alpha 8 labeling was detected as early as E16, peaked in most areas during the first 3 postnatal weeks, and persisted in the adult. Electron microscopic analysis of the adult hippocampal formation revealed a striking concentration of alpha 8 immunoreactivity in the spines and postsynaptic densities of dendrites. These results suggest that alpha 8 is involved in the regulation of axonal and dendritic growth of some neurons in the developing central nervous system (CNS) and provide ultrastructural evidence that integrins may participate in the formation, maintenance, or plasticity of synapses.
Environmentally opportunistic computing: A distributed waste heat reutilization approach to energy-efficient buildings and data centers

Abstract With building energy consumption rising in industrial nations, new approaches for energy efficiency are required. Similarly, the data centers that house information and communications technology continue to consume significant amounts of energy, especially for cooling the equipment, which in turn produces vast amounts of waste heat. A new strategy to overcome these challenges is called environmentally opportunistic computing (EOC), which conceptualizes the data center as a series of distributed heat providers (nodes) for other-purposed buildings that use the waste heat from the data center nodes to offset their own heating costs. In this paper, a general framework for evaluating the deployment of EOC is developed and select model cases are analyzed. The results show that by redefining a centralized data center as distributed nodes across multiple buildings, the overall energy consumption of an organization decreases significantly. The advantages of applying EOC to buildings that require constant water heat as opposed to seasonal space heat are explained, and the method of distributing the computational load among data center nodes is evaluated.
Beyond translesion synthesis: polymerase κ fidelity as a potential determinant of microsatellite stability

Microsatellite DNA synthesis represents a significant component of human genome replication that must occur faithfully. However, yeast replicative DNA polymerases do not possess high fidelity for microsatellite synthesis. We hypothesized that the structural features of Y-family polymerases that facilitate accurate translesion synthesis may promote accurate microsatellite synthesis. We compared human polymerases κ (Pol κ) and η (Pol η) fidelities to that of replicative human polymerase δ holoenzyme (Pol δ4), using the in vitro HSV-tk assay. Relative polymerase accuracy for insertion/deletion (indel) errors within 2-3 unit repeats internal to the HSV-tk gene concurred with the literature: Pol δ4 >> Pol κ or Pol η. In contrast, relative polymerase accuracy for unit-based indel errors within [GT](10) and [TC](11) microsatellites was: Pol κ ≥ Pol δ4 > Pol η. The magnitude of difference was greatest between Pols κ and δ4 with the [GT] template. Biochemically, Pol κ displayed less synthesis termination within the [GT] allele than did Pol δ4. In dual polymerase reactions, Pol κ competed with either a stalled or moving Pol δ4, thereby reducing termination. Our results challenge the ideology that pol κ is error prone, and suggest that DNA polymerases with complementary biochemical properties can function cooperatively at repetitive sequences.
Modeling and simulation of coupled transmission line interconnects over a noisy reference plane

Limitations in using conventional coupled transmission line simulators to model signal propagation over a noisy reference plane are explained. A distributed lumped element circuit model including reference plane parasitics and associated coupling (to signal conductors) parasitics is developed, and verified using SPICE simulations. Inductance and capacitance per-unit-length (pul) matrix elements are calculated using detailed two-dimensional parasitic extractors, and the partial inductance concept. Results using this model were compared with conventional "isolated" (switching noise isolated) coupled transmission line simulations. Significant differences were found. Package pin placement on the reference plane, and its impact on overall noise characteristics are analyzed. >
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRE-SOLAR COMPONENT IN ALLENDE AND OTHER CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES

Detailed analyses of separated phases of several Allende Ca-Al-rich inclusions are reported which reveal a consistent pattern of large O-16 enrichments in spinel, pyroxene, and sometimes olivine, and small O-16 enrichments in melilite, feldspathoids, and grossular. The heterogeneous distribution of the O-16 excesses, together with their enhancement in minerals believed to be early solar nebular condensates, suggests the existence of pre-solar carriers of the isotopic anomaly, probably grains or molecules with oxygen which was nearly pure O-16. Pre-solar grains of corundum or spinel, and pre-solar molecules of SiO are considered possibilities. Excess O-16, relative to terrestrial abundances, has been found in all samples of C2, C3 (the Allende is this kind), and C4 carbonaceous chondrites which have been analyzed. No direct correlation has yet been observed between the oxygen anomalies and isotope anomalies in neon, magnesium, or xenon.
Coexistent intra-symbol SMSE waveform design: Variation in waveform update latency and update rate

The impact of variation in waveform update latency and update rate is investigated for Spectrally Modulated, Spectrally Encoded (SMSE) waveform designs in a coexistent environment containing multiple 802.11 Primary User (PU) systems. As previously demonstrated for no latency with a fixed update rate, the SMSE waveform design process can exploit statistical knowledge of PU spectral and temporal behavior to maximize SMSE system throughput (bits/second) while adhering to SMSE and PU bit error rate constraints with mutual coexistent interference limited to manageable levels. Building upon this previous work, a sensitivity analysis is conducted here through parametric variation in both waveform update latency and update rate. Relative to a spectrally-only adapted waveform, the spectrally-temporally adapted waveform provides significant performance improvement. Maximum improvement is achieved using statistic-based prediction of channel temporal conditions and appropriate updating of the SMSE waveform design.
Comparison of prospective daily diaries and retrospective recall to measure oral contraceptive adherence.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to determine if retrospective recall of oral contraceptive (OC) adherence provides data that are similar to data collected via daily diaries over the same time period. Factors associated with inconsistent agreement between prospective and retrospective measurements of adherence also were explored. Study Design A total of 185 women participated in a longitudinal, prospective cohort of OC users, and 113 of these women provided complete information on OC adherence during follow-ups. Concordance beyond chance was assessed using weighted kappa statistics, and logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with inconsistent reporting of adherence. Results There was substantial agreement between prospective and retrospective adherence information (weighted kappa=0.64; 95% CI: 0.52–0.77). Participants with a high school education or less and those who had problems with feeling sad while using OCs had increased odds of inconsistent reporting of adherence (OR=4.38, 95% CI: 1.41–13.61 and OR=3.52, 95% CI: 1.25–9.94, respectively). Conclusion While prospective data collection via diaries may improve accuracy, the added expense and burden on study participants may not be necessary. However, the use of retrospective recall may not be appropriate for all study populations.
Polymorphisms in migraine-associated gene, atp1a2, and ischemic stroke risk in a biracial population: the genetics of early onset stroke study

In a recent meta-analysis migraine was associated with a two-fold increase in stroke risk. While the mechanism driving this association is unknown, one intriguing hypothesis is that migraineurs are genetically predisposed to developing ischemic stroke. Mutations in the ATP1A2 gene are implicated in familial hemiplegic migraine type II and increase the severity of ischemic brain injury in animal models. To further explore these observations, we assessed the association between ATP1A2 polymorphisms, migraine, and the risk of ischemic stroke in participants of the Genetics of Early-Onset Stroke Study, a population-based case–control study of ischemic stroke among men and women aged 15–49. Using responses to a headache symptoms questionnaire, subjects were classified as having no migraine, or migraine with or without visual aura. Evaluating a total of 134 ATP1A2 polymorphisms genotyped using a combination of Illumina platforms (Cardiovascular Gene-centric 50 K SNP Array and HumanOmni1-Quad_v1-0_B Bead Chip), only one polymorphism (rs2070704) demonstrated a nominally significant association with stroke in an age-, gender-, ethnicity-adjusted model (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.71-0.98, p = 0.025) and in a vascular risk factor model adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and myocardial infarction (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.63-0.89, p = 0.001). Ethnicity-stratified analyses demonstrated a significant association for rs2070704 among African-Americans (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.53-0.90, p = 0.005) but not Caucasians (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.64-1.04, p = 0.107). These associations were unchanged when migraine subtypes were included as co-variates. We did not observe an association between ATP1A2 polymorphisms and migraine. While our results do not demonstrate a strong relationship between ATP1A2 polymorphisms and migraine associated stroke risk, the results are hypothesis generating and indicate that an association between ATP1A2 polymorphisms and stroke risk may exist. Additional studies are required.
Integrative biology and the developing limb bud.

SUMMARY The identification or selective construction of mutations within genes has allowed researchers to explore the downstream effects of gene disruption. Although these approaches have been successful, a limitation in our assessment of the consequences of conditional changes, and thereby our understanding of roles or function of genes, limits the degree to which we examine the effects of our manipulations. It is also clear that linear associations are incorrect models for describing development, and newer methods now give us an opportunity to practice an integrative biology. In our attempts to explore the consequences of Hoxa13 disruption in mice and humans, it has become clear that a better understanding of the consequences of gene alteration may be achievable by taking a broader approach with a long-term view. Fundamental questions regarding Hox gene function in vertebrates, including those related to the number of target genes; the degree of overlap of target gene regulation among paralogs; the magnitude of modulation exerted; and the identity of genes that are activated versus repressed need to be explored if a more thorough mechanistic understanding is to be achieved. To begin to address these questions, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of the expression of genes within developing limb buds of mice, and here we present some of our preliminary results. Our efforts will further (1) the exploration of the broader genetic relationships of expressed genes, (2) the determination of parallels or variations in target usage for a given gene in different tissues and between different organisms, (3) the evaluation of limb patterning mechanisms in other animal model systems, and (4) the exploration of gene expression hierarchies regulated by HOX proteins in developmental systems.
Polyphosphoinositides:stimulator of mitochondrial cholesterol side chain cleavage and possible identification as an adrenocorticotropin-induced, cycloheximide-sensitive, cytosolic, steroidogenic factor.

ACTH treatment in vivo enhances the activity of adrenal cytosol for supporting pregnenolone synthesis in adrenal mitochondria. Upon fractionation of adrenal cytosol by gel filtration through Sephadex G200, pregnenolone synthesisstimulating activity is eluted just after 3H2O(Kd = 1.1–2.1). This late eluting steroidogenic activity is enhanced by ACTH treatment and diminished by cycloheximide treatment, which also inhibits adrenal protein synthesis and ACTH-induced steroidogenesis. Chromatography on Sephadex G-10 yields even further separation of steroidogenic factor(s) from inactive substances; it appears that the active factor(s) adsorbs to Sephadex and that such adsorption is enhanced by a greater degree of cross-linking in the gel. The phospholipids, cardiolipin, diphosphoinositide, and triphosphoinositide, are recovered partly in adrenal cytosol and, by virtue of their polyphosphorylated head group, specifically stimulate mitochondrial pregnenolone synthesis. It seems likely that the ACTH effect on cyto...
You Say Person, I Say Property: Does It Really Matter What We Call an Embryo?

(2004). You Say Person, I Say Property: Does It Really Matter What We Call an Embryo? The American Journal of Bioethics: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 17-18.
Cardanic Rocker Arms-A Method to Reduce Valve Train Friction

Cardanic rocker arms provide a rolling action at the rocker-arm pivot. This simple design concept is able to reduce friction at this interface by replacing sliding friction with rolling friction. Substantial reductions in valve train friction result, and the measurable improvement in vehicle fuel economy is 1 to 2 percent
Disrupting Calvin cycle phosphoribulokinase activity in Rhodopseudomonas palustris increases the H2 yield and specific production rate proportionately

Abstract Anoxygenic phototrophs, like Rhodopseudomonas palustris, can convert light energy and electrons from organic waste into H2 gas, a potential biofuel. During phototrophic growth on organic compounds, the CO2-fixing Calvin cycle competes against H2 production for electrons. Here we address why genetically disrupting the CO2-fixing enzyme, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), increases the H2 yield but not the specific H2 production rate. We hypothesized that remaining upstream phosphoribulokinase (PRK) activity negatively impacts growth and thereby the specific H2 production rate, likely due to the accumulation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, the substrate for Rubisco. In agreement with our hypothesis, deletion of PRK resulted in proportional increases to both the H2 yield and the specific production rate. Thus, even though Rubsico is traditionally a more common target to eliminate Calvin cycle activity we propose PRK as a favorable alternative to avoid undesirable pleiotropic effects.
Longitudinal Analysis of Functional Disabilities in Older Men

This study examined the prevalence of functional disabilities in a representative sample of older American men. Longitudinal changes in various disabilities and the effects of such changes on self-appraised health, normal role function, mobility and self-sufficiency in personal care were analyzed. The relationship between disabilities and survivorship was also investigated. The analysis showed that sizable percentages of men report motor-sensory dysfunctions, with blacks experiencing higher prevalence rates than whites. The risk of functional disablement rises with age and increases the likelihood of reporting unfavorable health outcomes or handicaps. There is also some evidence that functional capacities are restored and that these changes lead to more favorable health outcomes. The analysis showed finally that functional disabilities are strong predictors of mortality.
Advances in High Power Beamed Plasma Propulsion

Magnetic nozzles offer the ability to provide highly collimated plasma streams that increase thruster efficiency by maximizing conversion of thermal energy into directed energy. However, in order to ensure that the plasma becomes detached from the field lines, the plasma must become super-Alfvenic as it traverses the nozzle. If the plasma is also supersonic, self-focusing of the plasma can occur due to the modification of the magnetic field by induce plasma currents that cause the magnetic field lines to be dragged outwards with the plasma. In so doing the subsequent plasma encounters a more convergent magnetic field configuration as it leaves the nozzle, enhancing the collimation. These processes are demonstrated through computer simulations and verified using a high power helicon for the thruster. Increase in transit times of a factor of 33% are demonstrated with the density being substantially enhanced along the axis of the magnetic nozzle. The plasma beam is used to beam power into a distant system at the end of the chamber. This remotely powered thruster is shown to be able to support very high densities and with excellent collimation, albeit at reduced specific impulse but without any onboard power. This experiment demonstrates the ability of using a beamed plasma system to power the propulsion of a remote spacecraft. Such systems could substantially reduce the cost of orbital transfers from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit and even for planetary transfer orbits.
Convergence in Healthcare: Providers, Employers, and Health Plans.

Healthcare in the United States has experienced a tremendous amount of reform and innovation, especially in the past 10 years, with an emphasis on improving value. Value in healthcare is driven by increasing quality of care while reducing cost. The evolution of quality measurement has been proactive and voluntary within national organizations, such as the National Quality Forum.1 Reform has been less voluntary through government mandates, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). One trend occurring at an accelerated pace right now that will create more changes, and ideally more value for consumers, is convergence. Convergence is not necessarily a new trend in healthcare—an industry in which providers, employers, and health plans have typically operated in their unique areas, serving consumers (ie, patients, employees, or members) in a different way, typically without crossing into each other's domains. The exceptions to this, which is not our focus here, are organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, which has served as a health plan, an employer, and a healthcare provider for more than 60 years. To give convergence some significance, let us look at its definition. According to the Oxford's Learner's Dictionary, convergence is (1) to move toward a place from different directions and meet, (2) to move toward each other and meet at a point, or (3) to become very similar or the same. I propose defining convergence in healthcare as: The collaboration of payers and providers to provide population health management, and Divergent healthcare organizations becoming similar organizations. For the purpose of this article, providers are defined as physicians and hospitals, unless otherwise noted. The United States currently has approximately 5600 registered hospitals,2 hundreds of health plans, and thousands of large employers. Convergence can be broken up into many categories, but this article focuses on the 3 areas of: Health systems having their own plans Health plans having their own providers Employers directly contracting with providers. I have excluded employers that employ their own providers, because many large employers have employed physicians and/or other advanced practice providers in their own clinics to service their employees for many years, so this is not necessarily a new trend. However, methods that bring providers to the workplace, such as primary care onsite healthcare clinics, are expanding as employers look at new ways to keep productivity in the workplace high, with less absenteeism.3
Alcohol-related diagnoses and increased mortality in acute myocardial infarction patients: An analysis of the nationwide inpatient sample.

BACKGROUND Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease death, but heavy alcohol consumption may increase risk. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the association of alcohol-related diagnoses with in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DESIGN/SETTING/PATIENTS Discharge data collected from all admissions recorded in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2011. A cross-sectional analysis was performed using regression methods appropriate for the NIS sample design. MEASURES The outcome measures were in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and cardiac procedures. RESULTS AMI accounted for 610,963 (1.9%) of adult in-patient admissions, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 5.3%. Alcohol-related diagnoses were associated with increased mortality in AMI patients after controlling for factors associated with alcoholism including age, sex, liver disease, hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, peripheral vascular disease, arrhythmias, drug abuse, gastrointestinal bleed, and smoking (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-1.7, P < 0.001). This association was significant in both ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients (adjusted OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4-2.2, P < 0.001) and non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients (adjusted OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0-1.7, P = 0.025). Chronic alcohol-related diagnoses were significantly associated with death, but acute alcohol effects (as estimated by withdrawal and intoxication) were not associated. CONCLUSION Chronic alcohol-related diagnoses were associated with a modest increase in the risk for death in individuals presenting with AMI. This risk was not accounted for by common alcohol-related comorbidities. As a component of global efforts to limit hospital deaths from AMI, future research should identify the factors underlying this association. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
The theory research of power plant boiler stage combustion technology apply on industrial pulverized coal fired boiler

This paper will analysis two technologies of reduce NO_x,one is fuel-stage combustion technology,the another is air-stage combustion technology,basis on the two theories and applied effect,provide the method to solve the theory problem and technology instructor of NO_x emission of industrial pulverized fired coal boiler.
Effect of Rice Bran on Weed Controlling,Tillering and Yield

High quality,high yield and disease resistance,cold rice variety Longjing 20 was used to study the effect of chemical weeding,rice bran and chemical weeding,rice bran single on weed controlling,rice tillering and yield.The results showed that rice bran single had certain effect on weed controlling,but combining with closure weed controlling in early stage,applying rice bran later,the effect was better,which increasing tillering and yield about 45%.
Embedded-signal design for channel parameter estimation part II: quantization embedding

This is part II of a paper devoted to the problem of waveform design for identification of communication channel parameters, where the waveform is to be embedded in a host signal. We study a quantization-based embedding method and a two-step parameter estimator. The first step is a decoding problem, and the second step is a nonlinear least-squares minimization problem. Estimation performance is studied in an asymptotic regime. Under some conditions, the estimator does as well as one that knows the host signal.
Impact of Trucking Network Flow on Preferred Biorefinery Locations in the Southern United States

The impact of the trucking transportation network flow was modeled for the southern United States. The study addresses a gap in existing research by applying a Bayesian logistic regression and Geographic Information System (GIS) geospatial analysis to predict biorefinery site locations. A one-way trucking cost assuming a 128.8 km (80-mile) haul distance was estimated by the Biomass Site Assessment model. The “median family income,” “timberland annual growth-to-removal ratio,” and “transportation delays” were significant in determining mill location. Transportation delays that directly impacted the costs of trucking are presented. A logistic model with Bayesian inference was used to identify preferred site locations, and locations not preferential for a mill location. The model predicted that higher probability locations for smaller biomass mills (feedstock capacity, the size of sawmills) were in southern Alabama, southern Georgia, southeast Mississippi, southern Virginia, western Louisiana, western Arkansas, and eastern Texas. The higher probability locations for large capacity mills (feedstock capacity, the size for pulp and paper mills) were in southeastern Alabama, southern Georgia, central North Carolina, and the Mississippi Delta regions.
Hierarchical membranes with size-controlled nanopores from photofluidization of electrospun azobenzene polymer fibers

Membranes with hierarchical architectures, where pores of different sizes are integrated in tandem, are of great interest for water/oil emulsion separation due to their potential for achieving large flux, high selectivity, and mechanical durability. However, it remains challenging to modify the pore size in the nanoscale without sacrificing the flux, thus limiting the size of the oil/water droplets that can be filtered. Here, we electrospin a thin layer of azobenzene polymer (i.e., polydisperse orange 3, PDO 3) fibers on a highly porous supporting layer (i.e., an electrospun fiber network from polycaprolactone), followed by photofluidization of PDO 3 fibers to shrink the pore size from micrometer to nanometer by controlling the light exposure dosage. We show that the fabricated hierarchical membranes can be utilized for the gravity driven separation of water-in-oil emulsion droplets with size as small as 50 nm while maintaining high flux (ca. 15 000 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 for surfactant-free emulsions and ca. 1000 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 for surfactant-stabilized emulsions).
Discontinuous Solutions of a Doubly Periodic Problem for a Piecewise Homogeneous Plane with Interphase Defects

Discontinuous solutions of equations of a plane elasticity problem for a piecewise homogeneous plane obtained by joining two dissimilar strips are found using the Airy stress function. In the general case, doubly periodic interphase defects are on their connection lines, on which displacements and stresses are discontinuous. Based on the solutions obtained, a system of governing singular integral equations is derived for a particular problem where the defect is a finite crack. This system is solved by the method of mechanical quadratures. Numerical calculations are also carried out.