cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A gain-of-function screen for genes controlling motor axon guidance and synaptogenesis in Drosophila

Background: The neuromuscular system of the Drosophila larva contains a small number of identified motor neurons that make genetically defined synaptic connections with muscle fibers. We drove high-level expression of genes in these motor neurons by crossing 2293 GAL4-driven EP element lines with known insertion site sequences to lines containing a pan-neuronal GAL4 source and UAS-green fluorescent protein elements. This allowed visualization of every synapse in the neuromuscular system in live larvae. Results: We identified 114 EPs that generate axon guidance and/or synaptogenesis phenotypes in F1 EP x driver larvae. Analysis of genomic regions adjacent to these EPs defined 76 genes that exhibit neuromuscular gain-of-function phenotypes. Forty-one of these (known genes) have published mutant alleles; the other 35 (new genes) have not yet been characterized genetically. To assess the roles of the known genes, we surveyed published data on their phenotypes and expression patterns. We also examined loss-of-function mutants ourselves, identifying new guidance and synaptogenesis phenotypes for eight genes. At least three quarters of the known genes are important for nervous system development and/or function in wild-type flies. Conclusions: Known genes, new genes, and a set of previously analyzed genes with phenotypes in the Adh region display similar patterns of homology to sequences in other species and have equivalent EST representations. We infer from these results that most new genes will also have nervous system loss-of-function phenotypes. The proteins encoded by the 76 identified genes include GTPase regulators, vesicle trafficking proteins, kinases, and RNA binding proteins.
Brain-derived growth factor and glial cell line-derived growth factor use distinct intracellular signaling pathways to protect PD cybrids from H2O2-induced neuronal death

The cause of idiopathic PD is obscure, and most cases are sporadic. Oxidative stress and deficiency of various neurotrophic factors (NTFs) could be factors triggering neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra (SN). Cytoplasmic hybrid cells (cybrids) made from mitochondrial DNA of idiopathic PD subjects have reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and increased vulnerability to H2O2. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) rescue PD cybrids from H2O2-induced cell death. GDNF mediated effects require Src kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activation. Inhibiting either PI3K/Akt or ERK pathways blocks the effects of BDNF. Inhibiting p38MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways enhances the neuroprotective effects of both NTFs. These results demonstrate that expression of PD mitochondrial genes in cybrids increases vulnerability to oxidative stress that is ameliorated by both BDNF and GDNF, which utilize distinct signaling cascades to increase intracellular GSH and enhance survival-promoting cell signaling.
Hemodynamic response function in patients with stroke-induced aphasia: Implications for fMRI data analysis

Functional MRI is based on changes in cerebral microvasculature triggered by increased neuronal oxidative metabolism. This change in blood flow follows a pattern known as the hemodynamic response function (HRF), which typically peaks 4-6 s following stimulus delivery. However, in the presence of cerebrovascular disease the HRF may not follow this normal pattern, due to either the temporal signal to noise (tSNR) ratio or delays in the HRF, which may result in misinterpretation or underestimation of fMRI signal. The present study examined the HRF and SNR in five individuals with aphasia resulting from stroke and four unimpaired participants using a lexical decision task and a long trial event-related design. T1-weighted images were acquired using an MP-RAGE sequence and BOLD T2*-weighted images were acquired using Echo Planar Imaging to measure time to peak (TTP) in the HRF. Data were analyzed using Brain Voyager in four anatomic regions known to be involved in language processing: Broca's area and the posterior perisylvian network (PPN) (including Wernicke's area, the angular and supramarginal gyri) and right hemisphere homologues of these regions. The occipital area also was examined as a control region. Analyses showed that the TTP in three out of five patients in the left perisylvian area was increased significantly as compared to normal individuals and the left primary visual cortex in the same patients. In two other patients no significant delays were detected. We also found that the SNR for BOLD signal detection may by insufficient in damaged areas. These findings indicate that obtaining physiologic (TTP) and quality assurance (tSNR) information is essential for studying activation patterns in brain-damaged patients in order to avoid errors in interpretation of the data. An example of one such misinterpretation and the need for alternative data analysis strategies is discussed.
Measurement of NdFeB permanent magnets demagnetization induced by high energy electron radiation

Abstract Demagnetization of NdFeB permanent magnets has been measured as function of radiation dose induced by high energy electrons. The magnet samples were of different intrinsic coercive forces, ≃ 12 and ≃ 20 KOe , dimensions and direction of magnetization. 5 GeV electron beam from 12 GeV Cornell Synchrotron was used as a radiation source. A calorimetric technique was employed for radiation dose measurement. Results indicated that depending on the sample intrinsic coercive force, shape and direction of magnetization the radiation dose causing 1% of demagnetization of the sample varies from 0.0765 ± 0.005 Mrad to 11.3 ± 3.0 Mrad , i.e., by more than a factor of 100. Experimental data analysis revealed that demagnetization of the given sample induced by radiation is strongly correlated with the sample demagnetizing temperature. This correlation was approximated by an exponential function with two parameters obtained from the data fitting. The function can be used to predict the critical radiation dose for permanent magnet assemblies like undulator magnets based on its demagnetizing temperature. The latter (demagnetization temperature) can be determined at the design stage from 3-D magnetic modeling and permanent magnet material properties.
In vitro immune response to lipopolysaccharide: thymus-derived cells not required.

An in vitro immune response to lipopolysaccharide was obtained using heat-killed Escherichia coli cells as antigen. Spleen cell cultures from phenotypically normal mice responded to sheep erythrocytes and to lipopolysaccharide. Spleen cell cultures from congenitally athymic (nude) mice failed to respond to sheep erythrocytes but did respond to lipopolysaccharide. These results suggest that the in vitro immune response to lipopolysaccharide does not require the participation of thymus-derived cells.
The fifth International conference on autonomous agents: an E-commerce perspective

The fifth international conference on autonomous agents took place in Montreal, Canada from May 28th to June 1st, 2001. The technical program was rich with 13 tutorials, 12 workshops, 42 software demos, 57 papers, and 78 posters. In addition, the conference covered four invited talks, a panel on agents in e-commerce and robotics events. This report summarizes the parts of the technical program related to e-commerce.
Development and Implementation of New Volatile Cd and Zn Precursors for the Growth of Transparent Conducting Oxide Thin Films Via Mocvd

For the growth of thin zinc group metal oxide films [i.e. cadmium oxide (CdO), cadmium stannate (Cd2SnO4), and zinc oxide (ZnO)] via metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), volatile Cd and Zn precursor families are needed. Starting with Cd, β-ketoiminates of varying substitution were prepared to elucidate structure-property relationships. The nature of the ligand substituents strongly influences the melting point (liquid precursors are desired). Unlike conventional Cd β-diketonates, these complexes are monomeric as determined by x-ray crystallography. Despite these advantageous characteristics, attempts to grow CdO thin films in a cold-wall MOCVD reactor using two such derivatives were not successful. This class of Cd complex appears to decompose thermally with time— a likely cause of the poor performance. Therefore, a new series of more thermally stable Cd precursors was sought. Using the chelating diamineN,N,N 1,N1-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), monomeric β-diketonates were prepared. The molecular structure of Cd(hfa)2(TMEDA) (hfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate) confirms the monomeric structural assignment. This series of Cd complexes is appreciably more volatile and sublime more cleanly than the aforementioned β-ketoiminates, as determined by vacuum thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition to this advantageous characteristic, these complexes are easily prepared under ambient laboratory conditions from commercially available starting materials in a single step. Following the protocol established for Cd, a volatile series of Zn precursors was also prepared. For the Zn series, the melting point was effectively tuned through variation of both the β-diketonate and diamine ligands. The use of the Cd and Zn β-diketonate precursors in the successful growth of CdO and ZnO thin films, respectively, by MOCVD is also presented.
Design recommendation of a collaborative group decision support system for the aerospace corporation

When making important decisions, most companies and organizations require the input of several individuals in order to generate new ideas and make judgments. However, when the complexities of a group decision problem exceed normal decision making approaches, a more formal collaborative process and decision support environment is required. The primary goal of this project is to develop a group decision support system (GDSS) recommendation for the aerospace corporation that allow users to generate ideas electronically, make quantitative judgments, and identify the group's preferred outcome(s) using robust decision analysis and facilitated group collaboration methods. This paper outlines the overall GDSS recommendation and supporting objectives that were met, including the completion of an industrywide software trade survey, a ''rate and weight" decision model of prospective software solutions, and an examination of group collaboration techniques and GDSS facility designs.
Improving Domain-Specific Language Reuse with Software Product Line Techniques

Complex software systems, such as traffic management systems and shipboard computing environments, raise several concerns (such as performance, reliability, and fault tolerance) that developers must manage throughout the software life cycle. Domain-specific languages (DSLs) have emerged as a powerful mechanism for capturing and reasoning about these diverse concerns. For each system concern, you can design a DSL to precisely capture key domain-level information while shielding developers and users from the technical solution's implementation-level details.
Nanodiffraction and dark-field STEM characterization of single-walled carbon nanotube ropes

Abstract The techniques of electron nanodiffraction, using a beam of diameter about 0.7 nm, and the associated dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) imaging using a thin annular detector, have been applied to the study of the structures and defects of bundles, or ropes, of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWnT) formed by double laser irradiation of amorphous carbon. Series of nanodiffraction patterns obtained while the beam traverses images of SWnT ropes provide explanations for the bright bands and spots appearing in the dark-field images in terms of twists, bends and local defects of the stacking of the tubes within the ropes. In the few cases where ropes are seen to be abruptly terminated within the images, nanodiffraction patterns reveal that the rope structures become almost completely disordered as the rope end is approached.
Children with ASD can use gaze in support of word recognition and learning

Background Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) struggle to understand familiar words and learn unfamiliar words. We explored the extent to which these problems reflect deficient use of probabilistic gaze in the extra-linguistic context. Method Thirty children with ASD and 43 with typical development (TD) participated in a spoken word recognition and mapping task. They viewed photographs of a woman behind three objects and simultaneously heard a word. For word recognition, the objects and words were familiar and the woman gazed ahead (neutral), toward the named object (facilitative), or toward an un-named object (contradictory). For word mapping, the objects and words were unfamiliar and only the neutral and facilitative conditions were employed. The children clicked on the named object, registering accuracy and reaction time. Results Speed of word recognition did not differ between groups but varied with gaze such that responses were fastest in the facilitative condition and slowest in the contradictory condition. Only the ASD group responded slower to low frequency than high-frequency words. Accuracy of word mapping did not differ between groups, but accuracy varied with gaze with higher performance in the facilitative than neutral condition. Both groups scored above single-trial chance levels in the neutral condition by tracking cross-situational information. Only in the ASD group did mapping vary with receptive vocabulary. Conclusions Under laboratory conditions, children with ASD can monitor gaze and judge its reliability as a cue to word meaning as well as typical peers. The use of cross-situational statistics to support word learning may be problematic for those who have weak language abilities.
In vivo peritoneal chamber: linking structure and transport function.

⇔ Objective: The present study aimed to develop an animal model of chronic peritoneal exposure that directly links transport with the tissue involved. ⇔ Methods: Daily, rats were intraperitoneally infused through subcutaneous ports with 20 mL of these solutions: isotonic Krebs (K), K + 2.5% mannitol (M), K + 2.5% N-acetylglucosamine (NAG). Controls included catheteronly (CC) and age-control rats (AC). After 2 months, each rat was anesthetized and a plastic chamber was affixed to the abdominal wall serosa to isolate a portion of the peritoneum for transport studies. In the first 90 minutes, a hypertonic solution (approximately 500 mosm/kg) containing 14 C-mannitol was placed in chamber. The volume and 14 C concentration were measured to determine the rate of osmotic flux (flow/Area chamber ) into the chamber and the flux of mannitol from the chamber to the tissue. At 90 minutes, fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate (FITC)‐albumin was given intravenously. The rate of appearance of that substance in the chamber was measured over a period of 180 minutes and divided by Area chamber to determine the average flux. After the rat was humanely killed, the tissue under the chamber was collected for analysis of its hyaluronan concentration ([HA]). ⇔ Results: All data are given as mean ± standard error:
Tethered thumb sign: a unique observation in the physical examination of de quervain tenosynovitis.

To the Editor: Stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist is a painful condition that we see frequently. Because radial-sided wrist pain can be attributed to pathologies outside the first compartment, the clinician should ensure that an accurate assessment of the upper extremity is performed to confirm the diagnosis and guide appropriate treatment. A key examination tool is the maneuver characterized by Eichoff and Finklestein, in which the patient clenches the thumb in the palm while the wrist is moved into ulnar deviation. This test can be quite painful at times. Thus, we advise first using an adjunctive tool developed by the senior author (A.I.F.). This proposed maneuver elicits a characteristic response in many of the patients who have de Quervain tenosynovitis. The patient places his or her hands onto the table in a resting position. The clinician then grasps the fingers and brings both wrists into gentle ulnar deviation, allowing the thumb to remain free. In absence of pathology, the thumb follows the cascade of the rest of the hand into ulnar deviation. However, if there is stenosis of the first dorsal compartment, the thumb is tethered and remains aligned with the forearm while the rest of the hand falls into ulnar deviation (Fig. 1). We liken the finding of a tethered thumb to an accentuated tenodesis effect of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons, leading to the fixed position of the thumb with passive wrist ulnar deviation. We believe that this clinical maneuver can support the diagnosis of de Quervain tenosynovitis and assist in determin-
Characterization of the Electronic Properties of Wide Bandgap CuIn(SeS) 2 Alloys

The electronic properties of sulfur containing CIS chalcopyrite alloys have been characterized using junction capacitance methods. Two devices were examined; one containing CuIn(S,Se)2 alloy with a 1:2 S:Se ratio and a bandgap near 1.15eV, and the other an endpoint CuInS2 alloy with a bandgap slightly above 1.5eV. Drive-level capacitance profiling measurements indicated hole carrier densities of less than 1 x 1015 cm-3 and 1.5 x 1016 cm-3, respectively. Transient photocapacitance (TPC) sub-bandgap spectroscopic measurements revealed sharp bandtails plus a broad defect band within the bandgap of each alloy. The TPC spectra for the CuInS2 sample revealed a couple of unusual features, including a bandtail signal that reversed sign below 250K. This indicated poorer hole collection than electron collection in the low temperature regime. Comparing these results to TPC spectra obtained previously for Cu(InGa)Se2 alloys indicate some similarities but also some striking differences.
ORGAN PRESERVATION WITHOUT EXTREME HYPOTHERMIA USING AN OXYGENT~~ SUPPLEMENTED PERFUSATE

All methods of organ preservation depend upon hypothermia to depress metabolism during storage. Yet, hypothermia may represent the rate-limiting factor in organ preservation. A new perfusate has been developed which supports organ preservation without extreme hypothermia. The perfusate consists of a complex fluid supplemented with an oxygen carrying perfluorocarbon emulsion, Oxygent (Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp). The perfusate was used to preserve canine kidney autografts using pulsatile preservation at 32°C and static storage at 25°C. Upon autografting the dogs produced urine within minutes of reperfusion. These results indicate the new perfusate may have significant potential in organ preservation without extreme hypothermia.
An Analytical Model for the Integrated Daily Performance of Solar Air Heating Systems

Construction d'un modele analytique pour la prevision des performances a long terme des systemes solaires de chauffage a air chaud avec accumulation de chaleur en lit fixe tenant compte de la stratification thermique dans l'accumulateur
The experimental validation of robust control models for a heat experiment: a linear matrix inequality approach

Theoretical developments in time domain, sampled-data, model validation are applied to a radiant heat experiment. The time domain model validation problem applied here considers a continuous time robust control model, including unknown perturbations and signals, using a discrete datum of finite length. The sampled-data time domain model validation problem can be formulated as a linear matrix inequality problem. A computationally tractable algorithm, employing data decimation, is presented in the paper. The application to the experiment illustrates that useful engineering information can be obtained.
Evidence for added value of baseline testing in computer-based cognitive assessment.

Context: Large-scale baseline cognitive assessment for individuals at risk for concussion is a common part of the protocol for concussion-surveillance programs, particularly in sports. Baseline cog...
Optimal flow control allocation policies in communication networks with priorities

M(>or=2) transmitting stations sending packets to a single receiver over a slotted time-multiplexed link are considered. The objective is to characterize dynamic policies that minimize the discounted and long-term average costs due to holding packets at the M stations. This flow control problem is modeled as a Markov decision process and treated by dynamic programming methods. The authors derive properties of optimal (discounted) policies that reduce the computational complexity of the flow control algorithm, and prove two properties of optimal policies. These properties are used to show that the optimization reduces to the calculation of optimal allocations for a finite number of states. Some special cases are considered. >
Fine-grain visualization algorithms in dataflow environments

Most of the current dataflow visualization systems are based on coarse-grain dataflow computing models. In this paper we propose a fine-grain dataflow model that takes advantage of data locality properties of many visualization algorithms. A fine-grain module works on small chunks of data one at a time by keeping a dynamically adjusted moving window on the input data stream. It is more memory efficient and has the potential of handling very large data sets without taking up all the memory resources. Two popular visualization algorithms, an iso-surface extraction algorithm [1] and a volume rendering algorithm [2], are implemented using the fine-grain model. The performance measurements showed faster speed, reduced memory usage, and improved CPU utilization over a typical coarse-grain system.
HIERARCHICAL ANALYSIS OF FOREST BIRD SPECIES–ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE OREGON COAST RANGE

Species in biological communities respond to environmental variation si- multaneously across a range of organizational levels. Accordingly, it is important to quantify the effects of environmental factors at multiple levels on species distribution and abundance. Hierarchical methods that explicitly separate the independent and confounded influences of environmental variation across several levels of organization are powerful tools for this task. Our study used a hierarchical approach to partition explained variance in an Oregon Coast Range bird community among plot-, patch-, and landscape-level factors. We used a series of partial canonical ordinations to decompose species-environment relationships across these levels of organization to test four hypotheses about the importance of envi- ronmental control over community structure. We found that plot-level factors were better predictors of community structure than patch- or landscape-level factors. In addition, al- though landscape-level variables contributed substantial independent explanatory power, there was little evidence that patch-level environmental variability provided additional explanation of community structure beyond that provided by plot- and landscape-level factors. At higher levels of the hierarchical analysis, we found that, among plot-level factors, vegetation cover type was as powerful a predictor of community structure as detailed floristics, and more powerful than vegetation structure. At the landscape level, we found that landscape composition and configuration both provided substantial independent ex- planatory power, with landscape composition being the better overall predictor. Our results have a number of implications for sampling, analysis, and conservation. For example, misleading results could be obtained by studies conducted at a single organizational level. Also, the high degree of confounding among several levels of our analysis suggests that there is a lack of independence between the influences of environmental structure at different organizational levels. Due to this confounding, our results suggest that patch-based studies of forest-bird ecological relationships in the Oregon Coast Range may be equivocal. In addition, the power of mapped cover class as a plot-level predictor variable suggests that coarse-filter, multiscale approaches utilizing remote sensing and GIS may be nearly as effective at predicting local patterns as expensive field surveys of habitat conditions at the plot level, and more effective at predicting patterns continuously across large regions.
Cell-specific PD-L1 expression in DLBCL.

In this issue of Blood , a new study by Kiyasu et al used a double-staining technique to identify cell-specific programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in 1253 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) samples and analyzed the findings together with programmed death-1 (PD-1) expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and clinical outcomes, providing new insights into the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in DLBCL. 1
Study on an inter-organization activity based on the Internet traffic

A traffic analysis on the Internet has an advantage for obtaining the characteristics of transferred packets. There were many studies to understand the characteristics of the Internet traffic with mathematical statistical approach. The approach of this study is different front previous studies. It focuses on studying the traffic analysis with the framework of knowledge extraction. The measurement results of traffic capturing on the backbone network is applied to the inter-organization activity on the Internet. It shows that the proposed framework can be useful for the experiment results.
Method of Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation Affects Prediction of Mortality Risk

Decreased kidney function, determined using a serum creatinine–based estimation of GFR, is associated with a higher risk for mortality from cardiovascular disease. Equations incorporating cystatin C improve the estimation of GFR, but whether this improves the prediction of risk for mortality is unknown. We measured cystatin C on 6942 adult participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Linked Mortality File, including all participants who had high serum creatinine (>1.2 mg/dl for men; >1.0 mg/dl for women) or were older than 60 yr and 25% random sample of participants who were younger than 60 yr. We estimated GFR using equations that included standardized serum creatinine, cystatin C, or both. Participant data were linked to the National Death Index. A total of 1573 (22.7%) deaths (713 deaths from cardiovascular disease) occurred during a median of 8 yr. Lower estimated GFR based on cystatin C was strongly associated with higher risk for overall and cardiovascular mortality across the range of normal to moderately decreased estimated GFR. Creatinine-based estimates of GFR resulted in weaker associations, with the association between estimated GFR and all-cause mortality reversed at higher levels of estimated GFR. An equation using both creatinine and cystatin C (in addition to age, race, and gender) resulted in weaker associations than equations using only cystatin C (with or without age, race, and gender). In conclusion, despite better performance in terms of estimating GFR, equations based on both cystatin C and creatinine do not predict mortality as well as equations based on cystatin C alone.
Neurodevelopment and Chronic Illness: Mechanisms of Disease and Treatment.

Successful treatment of many childhood diseases once considered terminal has resulted in the emergence of long-term effects of the disease or consequences of treatment that were previously unrecognized. Many of these long-term effects involve the central nervous system (CNS) and are developmental in the way that they emerge over time. Because we are now able to observe the natural history of childhood diseases such as sickle cell anemia or HIV, or the consequences of treatment of disease such as leukemia, brain tumors, or kidney disease, we are also able to study a number of biological mechanisms that result in long-term neurocognitive impairment. While some of the neurodevelopmental outcomes can be directly linked to structural damage of the CNS, other systems (e.g., hematologic, immunologic, pulmonary) appear to play crucial indirect roles in the development of the CNS and neurocognitive abilities because of the way that they affect the course of brain development and activity of the brain across time. Important interactions between acute disease factors, biological mechanisms, age at the time of disease or treatment effect, and disruptions in patterns of development after successful treatment or management all provide support for a neurodevelopmental model of childhood chronic illness. Testing this model may make it possible to more accurately predict the timing and degree of severity of long-term neurodevelopmental consequences, provide guidance for improved treatment and prevention, and offer better understanding of neurodevelopmental disruptions that occur in other non-chronic illness related disabilities.
A time-efficient information collection protocol for large-scale RFID systems

Sensor-enabled RFID technology has generated a lot of interest from industries lately. Integrated with miniaturized sensors, RFID tags could provide not only the IDs but also valuable real-time information about the state of the corresponding objects or the surrounding environment, which is beneficial to many practical applications, such as warehouse management and inventory control. In this paper, we study the problem on how to design efficient protocols to collect such sensor information from numerous tags in a large-scale RFID system with a number of readers deployed. Different from information collection in the small RFID system covered by only one reader, in the multi-reader scenario, each reader has to first find out which tags located in its interrogation region in order to read information from them. We start with two categories of warm-up solutions that are directly extended from the existing information collection protocols for single-reader RFID systems, and show that all of them do not work well for the multi-reader information collection problem due to their inefficiency of identifying the interrogated tags. Then, we propose a novel solution, called the Bloom filter based Information Collection protocol (BIC). In BIC, the interrogated tag identification can be efficiently achieved with a distributively constructed Bloom filter, which significantly reduces the communication overhead and thus the protocol execution time. Extensive simulations show that BIC performs better than all the warm-up solutions and its execution time is within 3 times of the lower bound.
Studies on degradation mechanisms of lubricants for magnetic thin-film rigid disks:

AbstractThe decomposition mechanisms of the perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants have been studied through calculation of chemical reaction kinetics and several experimental approaches. Four degrad...
Parameterized and energy efficient adaptive beamforming on FPGAs using MATLAB/Simulink

Adaptive beamforming is widely used in many sonar and telecommunication systems. FPGAs are attractive for implementing these applications. In this paper, we develop parameterized designs and identify energy efficient FPGA implementations for adaptive beamforming applications using MATLAB/Simulink based system-level design tools. Experimental results are given to show that up to 51% energy reduction can be achieved using our design approach.
Improved single-photon detection

Visible light photon counters (VLPCs) and solid-state photomultipliers (SSPMs) facilitate efficient single-photon detection. We are attempting to improve their efficiency, previously limited to > 88% by coupling losses, via anti-reflection coatings, better electronics and cryogenics.
Spontaneous Formation of Vesicles of Diblock Copolymer EO6BO11 in Water: A SANS Study†

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) is used to study the structures formed in water by a diblock copolymer EO6BO11 (having 6 ethylene oxide, EO, and 11 butylene oxide, BO, units). The data show that polymer solutions over a broad concentration range (0.05-20 wt %) contain vesicular structures at room temperature. Interestingly, these vesicles could be formed without any external energy input, such as extrusion, which is commonly required for the formation of other block copolymer or lipid vesicles. The EO6BO11 vesicles are predominantly unilamellar at low polymer concentrations, whereas at higher polymer concentrations or temperatures there is a coexisting population of unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles. At a critical concentration and temperature, the vesicular structures fuse into lyotropic arrays of planar lamellar sheets. The findings from this study are in broad agreement with the work of Harris et al. (Langmuir, 2002, 18, 5337), who used electron microscopy to identify the vesicle phase in the same system.
The Appeal of Alfred Schutz in Disciplines beyond Philosophy, e.g. Jurisprudence

The theory of cultural science can be participated in by cultural scientists as well as philosophers and the latter must respect the actual practice of the scientists. Theory of science is about basic concepts and methods. For Schutz, all science is theoretical, which makes the question of application clearer, and cultural science addresses the field of objects always already interpreted in everyday life. Scientifically social science differs from the historical and psychological sciences in focusing on the world of contemporaries, who share time but not space with a self. Schutz’s remarks about the theory of law in particular are used to concretize this study of a position that has interested colleagues in at least eighteen disciplines other than philosophy.
A simple method of screening newborn infants for hereditary spherocytosis

We sought to develop a simple screening test for hereditary spherocytosis (HS) among neonates using the erythrocyte indices. This concept was based on the fact that the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in children with HS is generally elevated and on our observation that many neonates (but not older children) with HS have a low mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Erythrocyte indices of neonates with confirmed HS were compared with those of a control group without HS. Thirty-three newborns with HS had 1-22 complete blood counts (CBCs) during their first 90 days of life; 24 of these newborns had a parent with HS, while 9 had no family history of HS. The MCHC of the 33 newborns with HS averaged 36.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 34.8-37.8), and the MCV averaged 89.9 (95% CI, 81.1-99.3). In the control group (n = 40,946), the MCHC averaged 34.0 (95% CI, 32.3-35.7) and the MCV averaged 106.7 (95% CI, 100.0-113.5). For each CBC, we calculated a Neonatal HS Index by dividing the MCHC by the MCV. The index was 0.41 ΁ 0.03 in those with HS and 0.32 ΁ 0.01 in the controls (P = 0.0000). An index of >0.36 had 97% sensitivity, >99% specificity, and a >99% negative predictive value for identifying HS. Thus, the Neonatal HS Index can be used for rapid and simple screening of newborn infants for hereditary spherocytosis.
Mobile app-etite: Consumer attitudes towards and use of mobile technology in the context of eating behaviour

Understanding how consumers use mobile devices and mobile applications to support their eating behaviour, such as creating grocery lists, gathering meal ideas and ordering food from restaurants, is important for business, marketing and health professionals who seek to reach consumers through mobile technology. This study identified segments of users and non-users of food-related technology and described differences in their demographic characteristics, food-related app use and interest in food-related app functionality. Results revealed that 22 per cent of participants were highly engaged with technology and food, while just 12 per cent were disengaged from both. The remaining two-thirds of participants were evenly split between those who were engaged with technology and food generally but were ambivalent about food-related apps, and those who were utilitarian in their approach to food and disengaged from food-related apps. There were segment differences based on age such that younger adults (ages 18–34) were more likely to be engaged with technology and food than older adults (ages 55+). Technology and food-engaged segments reported the highest levels of use of select food-related apps, but even well-known apps were not highly used, indicating room for market expansion. Findings are discussed in the context of app development, digital advertising and nutritional health interventions.
Combined Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy of Transplantable and Spontaneous Murine Leukemia in DBA/2 and AKR Mice

Glycoprotein is an integral part of the surface structure of normal and neoplastic cells. Glycoprotein components play a significant role in such substances as blood-group antigens [12] and histocompatibility antigens [14], and may act as receptors in mitogenic interaction of phytohemagglutinin with lymphocytes. Membrane glycoproteins also probably play a role in self-recognition. It is therefore an attractive hypothesis that glycoprotein components of cell membranes may have a significant influence on metastasis and invasion of neoplastic cells [10, 15].
The mTOR Inhibitor Rapamycin Mitigates Perforant Pathway Neurodegeneration and Synapse Loss in a Mouse Model of Early-Stage Alzheimer-Type Tauopathy.

The perforant pathway projection from layer II of the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampal dentate gyrus is especially important for long-term memory formation, and is preferentially vulnerable to developing a degenerative tauopathy early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that may spread over time trans-synaptically. Despite the importance of the perforant pathway to the clinical onset and progression of AD, a therapeutic has not been identified yet that protects it from tau-mediated toxicity. Here, we used an adeno-associated viral vector-based mouse model of early-stage AD-type tauopathy to investigate effects of the mTOR inhibitor and autophagy stimulator rapamycin on the tau-driven loss of perforant pathway neurons and synapses. Focal expression of human tau carrying a P301L mutation but not eGFP as a control in layer II of the lateral entorhinal cortex triggered rapid degeneration of these neurons, loss of lateral perforant pathway synapses in the dentate gyrus outer molecular layer, and activation of neuroinflammatory microglia and astroglia in the two locations. Chronic systemic rapamycin treatment partially inhibited phosphorylation of a mechanistic target of rapamycin substrate in brain and stimulated LC3 cleavage, a marker of autophagic flux. Compared with vehicle-treated controls, rapamycin protected against the tau-induced neuronal loss, synaptotoxicity, reactive microgliosis and astrogliosis, and activation of innate neuroimmunity. It did not alter human tau mRNA or total protein levels. Finally, rapamycin inhibited trans-synaptic transfer of human tau expression to the dentate granule neuron targets for the perforant pathway, likely by preventing the synaptic spread of the AAV vector in response to pathway degeneration. These results identify systemic rapamycin as a treatment that protects the entorhinal cortex and perforant pathway projection from tau-mediated neurodegeneration, axonal and synapse loss, and neuroinflammatory reactive gliosis. The findings support the potential for slowing the progression of AD by abrogating tau-mediated neurotoxicity at its earliest neuropathological stages.
Custodian’s Liability in European Private Law

The paper explores the concept of custodian’s liability as it exists in the legal systems of contemporary Europe. Originating in the civil law of France, custodian’s liability spread to some other European legal systems but never gained widespread recognition. It compares to the rival concept of strict liability which dominates the common law and the civil law of Germany and other European legal systems.
Preparation of Proteolipids

The term proteolipid was introduced by Folch and Lees (1951) to refer to a class of lipoproteins which are soluble in chloroform-methanol mixtures and insoluble in water. Lipoproteins are composed of a lipid moiety and a protein moiety, but the solubility properties of the proteolipids are the reverse of those of the serum lipoproteins. The protein moiety of proteolipids is hydrophobic, and, even after removal of complex lipids, the apoprotein retains its solubility in chloroform-methanol. In addition, the apoprotein shows a conformational flexibility which permits a reversible interconversion between a chloroform-methanol-soluble and a water-soluble form. The present status of our knowledge of the chemistry of proteolipids has been reviewed by Folch-Pi and Stoffyn (1972).
Current Soviet Psychological and Psychiatric Research with Nonhuman Primates

Primate research has a long history in the Soviet Union. As early as 1913, at The Darwin Museum in Moscow, Ladygina-Kots was studying the comparative behavioral development of young chimpanzees and of children. In 1927, one of the world's oldest and largest primate research centers was established at Sukhumi. Now known as the Institute of Experimental Pathology and Therapy, it makes available several thousand animals (including a dozen chimpanzees and two young gorillas) for study by several hundred scientific investigators. A second primate facility, which has been in use for more than three decades and from which a considerable number of interesting studies have come, is the Anthropoid House at Koltushi, a laboratory administered by the Pavlov Physiology Institute in Leningrad. Finally, just in the last two years, a new primate laboratory has been added to the Institute of Physiology in Tbilisi.
Household air pollution, smoking, and chronic respiratory disease in low and middle-income countries

Introduction Household air pollution (HAP) and smoking are important risk factors for chronic respiratory disease in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). We assessed the relative contributions of HAP and smoking to chronic respiratory disease in adults across 44 LMIC. Methods We used data from the World Health Survey, conducted by the WHO in 2002-2004. The survey measured exposure to HAP (use of high-polluting cooking fuel), current tobacco smoking, and respiratory symptoms in the past year (wheezing, exercise-induced wheezing, chest tightness, nocturnal chest tightness, and shortness of breath). We measured the effect of HAP and smoking on the odds of wheezing or any respiratory symptom. Results A total of 197,295 adults across 44 countries were included in the analysis, representing a weighted population of 1.69 billion; 58.2% were exposed to HAP and 26.8% were currently smoking. Among respondents, 8.9% reported wheezing and 17.2% reported any respiratory symptom. After adjusting for age, sex, income, and urban setting, the combination of HAP and smoking was associated with a greater odds of wheezing or any respiratory symptom than either risk factor alone. Conclusions The combination of HAP and tobacco smoking significantly increases the risk of wheezing and chronic respiratory symptoms. Both risk factors must be addressed in order to reduce the global burden of chronic respiratory disease.
The effect of passage with chloramphenicol upon the behavior of penicillin-resistant feline pneumonitis virus during subsequent passage with penicillin.

The development of a penicillinresistant strain of feline pneumonitis virus, a member of the psittacosislymphogranuloma group of microorganisms, has been described by Moulder et al (1955). After 33 passages in the yolk sacs of chick embryos receiving penicillin, the resistant virus produced 100*^ mortality in embryos dosed with sufficient penicillin to give complete protection against the parent virus, but penicillin-treated embryos survived 2 to 3 days longer than em bryos inoculated with resistant virus alone. When this level of resistance remained unchanged during 16 additional yolk sac transfers in the presence of penicillin, the resistant virus was passed 5 times in embryos given chloramphenicol and then returned to passage with penicillin in the hope that such alternate passage would raise the resistance to penicillin to a higher level than had been achieved by use of penicillin alone. This procedure was suggested by the report of Kraft and Braun (1954) that growth of Brucella suis on non-inhibitory concentrations of penicillin resulted in the isolation of an unusually large number of chloramphenicol-resistant mutants
The Tric-Trac Window of Le Mans

The tric-trac window in the south choir clerestory of Le Mans Cathedral is an elaborate set of puns on the name of the donor, here identified as Jeanne dite Gervaise de Mayenne, domina of Le Chartre-sur-Loir. The rebus — rare in the Gothic period — makes precocious use of name saints, the rare heraldic instance of a woman's cadence mark, and puns on Anglo-French game terms. Jeanne's gift, datable ca. 1265-69, establishes a solid date for the late glazing of the cathedral; style and forms can be traced to a model in the glazing of Bourges.
Understanding animal models of elite control: windows on effective immune responses against immunodeficiency viruses.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW We will summarize recent advances in research regarding control of simian immunodeficiency virus replication in nonhuman primate models. We will then relate these findings to the broader field of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine development. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have highlighted the importance of T-cell responses in elite control, especially CD8+ T-cell responses and provide insight into the kinetics and qualities of such effective responses. Additionally, these findings suggest that the peptides bound by elite control-associated major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in monkeys and humans share many properties. SUMMARY Animal models of effective immune control of immunodeficiency virus replication have provided important insight into the components of successful immune responses against these viruses. Similarities between the human and nonhuman primate responses to immunodeficiency viruses should help us understand the nature of elite control. Further study of the acute phase, in which virus replication is first brought under control, may help define important characteristics of viral control that could be engendered by a successful HIV vaccine.
Power without Bounds? Middle Preclassic Political Developments in the Naco Valley, Honduras

Recently completed investigations in the Naco Valley, located within the Rio Chamelecon drainage of northwestern Honduras, suggest that, by 1200 B. C., emergent elites were experiencing variable success in their efforts to construct sociopolitical hierarchies. Though able to harness labor in the construction of large platforms, these scions apparently did not monopolize crucial economic processes nor could they command the exclusive allegiances of their subordinates over protracted periods. Political centralization, social heterogeneity, and boundary formation processes were, therefore, not mutually reinforcing and the polities that resulted were small and ephemeral. Comparison of Naco"s trajectory with contemporary developments in neighboring portions of southeastern Mesoamerica hint at the varied developmental paths that ultimately laid the foundation for the emergence of relatively stable, hierarchically organized polities in the subsequent Classic period (A. D. 200–900).
Looking at painting in occupied Paris: Georges Braque’s spectators

Georges Braque worked in his Paris studio throughout the Occupation, painting interior scenes that seemed largely unresponsive to the historical events surrounding him. Viewers of his painting, how...